biogeochemistry

I am a PhD student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program. I am most interested in how the diversity and abundance of soil microbial communities help regulate biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen. I hope to use molecular biology and genomics to better understand these questions.

Kirsten Hofmockel is an assistant professor in the Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Department at Iowa State University.  She directs the Microbial Ecology Laboratory, which focuses on connecting microscale mechanism to ecosystem-scale biogeochemical processes.
khof@iastate.edu
515-294-2589

Denitrification is a crucial aspect of the N cycle, transforming terrestrial N into atmospheric N.  While this can reduce eutrophication of aquatic systems, it can also product N2O, a potent greenhouse gas.  At present there is a critical need to understand the underlying microbiology that drives denitrification so land managers can maximize the benefits of denitrification and minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Our research consists of both field measurements and laboratory manipulations aimed at linking microbiology to ecosystem denitrification rates.

A critical gap in making progress toward ecologically beneficial farming practices is an explicit understanding of how soils store carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) over the long term. Farmers are facing new challenges that require management practices for improving soil quality, increasing both belowground (live roots) and aboveground (live cover) biomass, increasing soil organic matter, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To identify optimal man¬agement strategies, an understanding of microbial processes that regulate C and N cycling is essential.