Kirsten Butcher
Assistant Professor
Soil Health
233 Walster Hall
Education
- PhD, Ecology, Utah State University, 2023
- MS, Soil Science, North Dakota State University, 2016
- BSc, Biology, Saint Louis University, 2014
- BSc, Environmental Science, Saint Louis University, 2014
Research Interests
My research focuses on soil biogeochemistry with an emphasis on how microbial activity scales up to broader ecosystem services and functions. My lab investigates the pathways through which microbes transform C and N, modulate soil fertility, promote disease and pest suppression, and interact with minerals to regulate the formation, saturation, and resilience of mineral-associated organic matter. Using 13C and 15N isotopic techniques, my lab links micro-scale microbial processes to emergent ecosystem outcomes.