1420319991

Our agroecology research group focuses on understanding how plant-soil interactions mediate carbon and nitrogen cycling and placing this research within broader social and economic contexts. The necessity of sustainably producing food has never been more evident as agriculture both contributes to and is impacted by many global change issues. In particular, increased climate variability requires the development of resilient, regionally adapted production systems. Our research applies concepts from ecology and biogeochemistry to study nutrient cycling and organic matter dynamics within cropping systems from rhizosphere to global scales using on-farm, experiment station, greenhouse, and modeling experiments. Central topics of our research group include:

• Plant mediation of nitrogen mineralization through shifts in belowground carbon allocation

• Utilizing plant diversity to improve cropping system resilience

• Interdisciplinary collaborations to integrate agroecological knowledge into policy and management

Recent highlights

  • Opportunity Page

    Join the lab group! Thank you for your interest in joining our agroecosystems research program at Colorado State University. We welcome the participation of undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. Potential graduate students should review the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences or the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology descriptions and requirements prior to contacting Dr. Schipanski.

  • Communicating science through infographics

    We had the opportunity to collaborate with graphic designer Lead Kucera to illustrate the lab’s work from root zones to biomes. This was integrated into a science communication workshop at the AAAS meeting. Check out the final product: InfoGraphic  

  • New PhD training program accepting applications

    Interested in food, energy or water systems and sustainability issues?  Consider applying for the new InTERFEWS graduate program created to integrate food, energy, water education using a systems-based approach that cuts across disciplines, departments and colleges.  InTERFEWS is currently accepting PhD candidates entering the 1st or 2nd semester of their PhD program.