Eli Ward
Doctoral Candidate, 4th year
My research focuses on plant-soil interactions and their effects on carbon and nitrogen cycling and storage in forests. Specifically, my work investigates feedbacks between invasive plants, soil nutrient availability, and disturbance as well as the influence of mycorrhizal functional types on soil biogeochemical processes. Many of the systems that I work in are strongly influenced by human use, such as urbanization and forest management, and I am particularly interested in applications of my research for conservation and restoration.