Tropical forests offer opportunities to expand ecology in new and exciting directions. I am interested in how community assembly and abiotic processes shape ecosystem function in tropical ecosystems. Specifically, my research focuses on tree communities, microbial decomposers, and nutrient cycling. I use lightning as a model phenomenon for understanding tree community assembly and the ramifications of disturbance in tropical forests. After trees die, they decompose with major implications for carbon cycling. I explore how environmental conditions, biogeochemistry, and microbial community assembly influence decomposition. Please check out this website or flip through the photo gallery for a deeper look at my research program and my passion for education.
