People
Francesca Cotrufo
Professor
Francesca Cotrufo is a professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University. She earned a B.Sc. from the University of Naples, Italy and her Ph.D. from Lancaster University, UK. Prior to join CSU in 2008, she worked as a professor at University of Campania, Italy.
Dr. Cotrufo is a soil ecologist and biogeochemist, internationally recognized for her work in the field of litter decomposition and soil organic matter dynamics, and in the use of isotopic methodologies in these studies. She strives to advance understanding of the mechanisms and drivers of formation and persistence of soil organic matter, and their response to global environmental changes and disturbances. She uses this understanding to improve modelling of soil C-climate feedbacks to inform climate and land use policy and management. She also pursues applied research to innovate and increase throughput of soil carbon and health testing, and to propose soil management practices that regenerate healthy soils and mitigate climate change. As a scientist fully aware of the current and future challenges expecting humanity, Dr. Cotrufo is interested in promoting research education, and outreach activities to help mitigating the current human impacts on the Earth System and assure a better sustainable path for humanity. To this end, with other colleagues at CSU, she recently formed the Soil Carbon Solution Center.
Dr. Cotrufo is editor of the journal Global Change Biology. To date she published over 150 peer-reviewed articles , several book chapters and her book “A Primer on Stable Isotopes in Ecology” is in press by Oxford University Press. She has been the recipient of the SSSA Soil Science Research Award, the CSU Provost 14’er Award for Faculty Excellence, and the ASA-CSSA-SSSA Mentoring Award. She was recognized as Nutrien Distinguished Scholar of Agricultural Sciences, SSSA Francis E. Clark Distinguished Lecturer, CSU Distinguished Resident Ecologist, MSU Eminent Ecologist, UN Leu Distinguished Lecturer, August T Larsson Researcher within the 2% of the world scientists for publication impact (PLSO, 2020), Soil Expert by Expertscape’s PubMed, and Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher (2018, 2022).
Francesca strives to balance work and life, to spend enriching and fun time with her family and friends all over the world. She loves sailing and skiing, but also her simple daily walk.
Megan Machmuller, PhD
Research Scientist
Dr. Machmuller is a research scientist in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University. Megan has a passion for understanding the fascinating complexity of our natural world and identifying the fundamental ecological and biogeochemical processes that underpin resilient and sustainable ecosystems. Her research, which extends from the arctic tundra to subtropical grasslands, aims to address how climate change and management practices influence plant-microbial interactions, soil health, and carbon sequestration. She serves on the executive leadership committee for the Soil Carbon Solutions Center, is the co-director of the Integrated Rocky Mountain-region Innovation Center for Healthy Soils and is a scientific lead for the Colorado Soil Health program – Saving Tomorrow’s Agricultural Resources, which aim to advance soil health research and encourage the widespread adoption of soil health practices across the region by holding critical conversations and supporting collaboration with producers, policymakers, and the public. Megan received her BS in Biology from Creighton University and PhD in Ecology from the Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia and served as a USDA NIFA postdoctoral fellow prior to her current position at CSU.
Our Soil Management Team
Michelle Haddix, MSc
Research Associate
Michelle got her bachelor’s degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Environmental Studies and her master’s degree in Ecology at Colorado State University. She has worked in soil labs for over 20 years and developed multiple soil fractionation protocols and has focused her work on understanding the mechanisms and monitoring soil organic matter stabilization and destabilization. She is the Senior Manager of the Soil Innovation Laboratory. And in her free time, she enjoys gardening, baking, and spending time with her two boys.
Rebecca Even, MSc
Research Associate
Rebecca received her BSc in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and MSc in Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University. She became smitten with soil organic matter as an undergraduate researcher where she learned more about soil’s role in the global carbon cycle and how through improved soil management, we can mitigate effects of climate change. She is the Associate Lab Manager of the SoIL and leads or assists with research projects and trainings. When not at work, she loves alpine lake swims and dog snuggles.
Research Scientists and Post Doctorates
Paige Stanley, PhD
Research Scientist
Paige is an interdisciplinary scientist working to understand how grazing management can sequester and stabilize carbon (C) in soils to help mitigate climate change and build more resilient rangeland ecosystems. With a B.S. in Biology and Economics (Georgia College & State University), M.S. in Animal Science (Michigan State University), and PhD in Environmental Science (University of California, Berkeley), she draws on a wide range of disciplines including soil biogeochemistry, grazing and rangeland ecology, agroecology, rancher sociology, and political ecology to approach research questions holistically. In her free time, Paige loves hiking/backpacking, cycling, cooking for her friends, and seeing her favorite bands live.
Lexi Firth, PhD
Research Scientist
Lexi’s research interests are centered around the interplay between food production, human-environmental relationships, and soil health. She received her BS in ecology from Humboldt State University, which inspired her to explore the natural word as a traveling biological. Following several years working on an organic farm in New Mexico, Lexi completed her MSc and Ph.D. from Mississippi State University in natural resource management. Her work primarily revolves around improving soil health through responsible land stewardship, with a special focus on soil microbiology, carbon, and outreach education.
Sam Leuthold
Postdoctoral Researcher
Sam’s current works seeks to leverage mid-infrared soil spectroscopy and machine learning tools to better understand the form and function of soil organic matter in ecosystems. He received a BS in Soil and Water Sciences from Montana State University before getting a MS in Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Kentucky, where his research focused on interactions between topography, sustainable cropping practices, and nitrogen management. He received his PhD from Colorado State University in 2024, where he examined questions around methods for soil organic matter characterization as well as the linkages between organic matter form and ecosystem processes. Chief among his research interests are the means by which climate, topography, and management interact with soil biogeochemical factors to determine agronomic outcomes, like crop yield and yield stability, and how spectroscopic information can help to predict both biogeochemical parameters and agronomic indicators at scale. Sam currently splits his time between Chicago and Colorado, and outside of work enjoys cooking, reading mediocre thriller novels, and riding his bike.
Paige Hansen
Postdoctoral Researcher
Paige’s research focuses on how microbial ecology can be applied to better understand soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics and improve development of process-based models predicting soil carbon storage and nitrogen recycling. Her interest in soil microbes stem from her BS and MA in soil microbiology (University of Kansas), where her work involved understanding shifts in microbial community ecology in response to global change, before earning her PhD in soil biogeochemistry from Colorado State University. She draws on knowledge from both disciplines to identify mechanisms through which microbes can be leveraged to enhance SOM formation and persistence. Outside of soil, Paige loves vintage clothing and design, caring for her houseplants, and traveling around the world to spend time with her friends and family.
Graduate Students
Erica Patterson
PhD candidate
Erica earned a BSc in Fish Wildlife and Conservation Biology and an MSc in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University. Currently she is pursuing a PhD in Rangeland Ecology and Soil Biogeochemistry with a focus on how livestock management impacts soil carbon sequestration in grassland ecosystems. She is motivated in this work by the many implications of improving rangeland management, from bolstering soil and ecosystem health, to ensuring food security, and ultimately to mitigating the effects of climate change. Outside of academia, Erica loves backpacking, skiing, trail running and, on the rainy days, baking.
Laura Moore
PhD student
Laura earned her BS in Soil and Crop Sciences from Colorado State University. Her passion for agriculture and climate change mitigation motivated her to pursue undergraduate research, where she became enamored with how soil microbes influence organic matter formation and biogeochemical cycling. Currently, she is a PhD student, primarly under Dr. Kelly Wrighton, and NSF GRFP fellow whose research seeks to identify the microbial metabolic mechanisms contributing to organic matter storage in regenerative grazing systems. Outside of school, she loves all things outdoors and can be found gardening, snowboarding, or adventuring with her dog in the mountains.
Tayin Wang
PhD student
Tayin received his BA in Chemistry and Environmental Studies from Kalamazoo College. Through his undergraduate summer research at Colorado State University, he learned about plant’s amazing ability to communicate with soil microbes via root exudation. This experience spearheaded his research interest in the role of plant-soil-microbe interactions on nutrient cycling regulation and soil organic matter formation. Driven by the sustainable cause of nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation, he now leads a team of students in various research projects, coordinating fieldwork logistics, laboratory analyses, and data wrangling. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his partner and dog, playing board games, and cooking with friends!
Joseph Toman
PhD student
Joseph Toman is a PhD student researching grazing-plant-soil relationships and processes in dryland ecosystems. He is also passionate about science education outreach and will be developing curriculum and programs for teachers. Before joining the SoIL at CSU, he received his MESc at the Yale School of Environment, where he examined the grazing-plant-soil relationships of big sagebrush ecosystems, particularly focusing on the dynamics of water balance and soil carbon and nitrogen pools. He received his BS in Molecular Environmental Biology and BS in Conservation and Resource Studies at UC Berkeley, where he worked on projects involving rangeland management and biogeochemistry. His research focuses on integrating the molecular interactions with the macro-processes that influence them to contribute to a more holistic understanding of ecosystem dynamics. Outside of work, Joseph enjoys backpacking, biking, rock climbing, and on days in, puzzles and board games.
Research Associates
Emily Riley, BSc
Research Associate and Master’s student
Emily received her BSc in Agricultural Science at Universidad de la Republica, Facultad de Agronomia, Uruguay. Her interest in agriculture comes from being born and raised in a country where the principal industry is agriculture. She wants to learn more about soil carbon dynamics under regenerative management. She is now working as a Research Associate, learning from all the projects. In her free time, she goes hiking.
Emma Hamilton, BSc
Research Associate and Master’s student
Emma graduated with a BSc in Data Science from Colorado State University, where her interest in programming and climate change guided her towards model development. Her work has fueled her passion for soil science and reinforced her commitment to sustainable agriculture and responsible land management. Outside of her professional life, Emma enjoys gardening, reading science fiction, and playing board games.
Laramie Woods, BSc
Research Associate
Laramie earned her BS in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at Colorado State University. This is where she discovered the work-study opportunity to begin at the Soil Innovation lab as a Research Technician. Initially, her goal was to build research and analytical skills as an undergrad, but over time she had discovered a passion for the professional, diligent atmosphere of research. Upon graduating, Laramie was given the chance to continue lab work as a Research Associate. Her role within the lab and background within agriculture has driven her passion for soil health, regenerative practices, and ecological understanding. Outside of work, she enjoys live-music, gardening, connecting with nature, and spending time with her dog, Willow.
Visiting Scientists
Xiangping Tan
Visiting scientist
Jiang Xinyu
Visiting scientist
Zheng Jiyong
Visiting scientist
Alumni
Jenny Soong. PhD
Corteva Agriscience
Carbon and Ecosystem Services Program Lead
Jennifer Soong
Matt Ramlow, PhD
World Resources Institute
Research Associate
Matt Ramlow
Yamina Pressler, PhD
Cal Poly
Assistant Professor
Yamina Pressler
Erika Foster, PhD
Point Blue
Soil Ecologist
Erika Foster
Katie Rocci, PhD
Universities of Colorado and Michigan
Postdoctoral Researcher
Katie Rocci
Laura van der Pol, PhD
The Land Institute
Lead Soil Scientist
Laura van der Pol
A.J. Horton, MSc
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Environmental Investigator
Sarah Leichty, MSc
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Earth scientist
Sarah Leichty
Hania Oleszak, MSc
Colorado State University
Horticulture Extension Agent
Hania Oleszak
Aaron Prarie, PhD
Colorado State University
Postdoctoral Researcher
Aaron Prairie