Scientist II

About Me

I’m a biogeochemist and microbial ecologist working in the Whitman lab. I received my PhD at Purdue University, where I worked with the Filley group in the Purdue Stable Isotope lab. After receiving my undergraduate degree in Microbiology at Michigan State University, I became interested in stable isotope and soil science while studying the impacts of surface chemistry on the degradation of carbon nanomaterials in soils.

In my free time I enjoy baking, reading, mushroom hunting, and tinkering with machines.

Research

My primary research interest revolves around the incredible versatility of soil microorganisms in metabolizing highly condensed (hard to degrade) carbon sources.  In the Whitman lab, I’m looking to better understand the role of microbial communities in degrading the pyrogenic organic matter created by forest fires.

Education

Ph.D. – Terrestrial Biogeochemistry
Purdue University

Dissertation: Microbial Controls on the Environmental Fate of Carbon Nanomaterials

B.S. – Microbiology
Michigan State University

Contact: td[lastname]@wisc.edu