Soil-Plant Interactions in the McDaniel Lab
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Marshall McDaniel marsh@iastate.edu | google scholar
Associate Professor in Soil-Plant Interactions | Agronomy Department at Iowa State University
The fearless leader, and mischief maker.
Hobbies: My spare time is spent playing guitar and bass, mtn biking, playing board games (and card games).
Reid Barker rwbarker@iastate.edu
Research Scientist
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Curious about water quality, soil health/conservation, and habitat conservation.
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Hobbies: hunting, fishing, gardening, and cooking.
Professional & Scientific Staff
Tim Youngquist timyoung@iastate.edu
Agricultural Specialist
Curious about water quality, perennial crops, finding space for wildlife habitat within agricultural systems.
Hobbies: native plant propagation, ecological restoration, old house preservation, chickens, time with my family.
Matt Woods mwoods@iastate.edu
Agricultural Specialist
Curious about everything agronomy.
Hobbies: music, sports, and outdoor activities.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Jared Flater jflater@iastate.edu | twitter
Postdoctoral Researcher, Ph.D. in Agriculture Biosystems Engineering from ISU in 2020
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Curious about healthy soil microbiomes, belowground systems, improving agriculture through soil biology.
Hobbies: running (esp. long distance), hiking and camping with wife and dog, conservation/naturalism.
Cole Dutter cdutter@iastate.edu | google scholar
Postdoctoral Researcher, Ph.D. in Soil Science and Sustainable Agriculture from ISU 2022
Curious about cropping systems, soil health, farming externalities and sustainable agriculture.
Hobbies: beekeeping, backpacking, cycling, gardening and reading.
Toby Adjuik tadjuik@iastate.edu | google scholar | twitter
Postdoctoral Researcher, Ph.D. in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering from U. of Kentucky 2022
Curious about soil greenhouse fluxes, process-based and machine learning modeling, and soil amendments.
Hobbies:cooking, listening to podcasts, soccer, and working out.
Ala Khaleel akhaleel@iastate.edu | google scholar | twitter
Postdoctoral Researcher, Ph.D. Student in Soil Science and Environmental Science
Curious about soil health and water quality, deep soil organic C, and C & N cycling related enzymes.
Hobbies: reading, camping, hiking, birdwatching, basketball, cooking, music, piano, time with my family.
Ashani Thilakarathne ashanit@iastate.edu
Postdoctoral Researcher
Curious about sustainable agriculture, water quality, soil health, cover crops and N2O emissions.
Hobbies: reading, dancing, cooking and traveling with family.
Hyeonji Song hyeonjis@iastate.edu | google scholar
Postdoctoral Researcher, Ph.D. in Soil Science
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Curious about soil C & N dynamics in climate change, soil and plant interactions in different cropping systems.
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Hobbies: travelling, playing drum, something historical, listening to music.
Sebastian Villarino sh4@iastate.edu | google scholar
Postdoctoral Researcher, Ph.D. in Agrarian Sciences
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Curious about soil organic matter, soil ecology, and agriculture sustainability.
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Hobbies: camping, hiking, and listening to music.
Graduate Students
Malcolm St Cyr mystcyr@iastate.edu | twitter
M.S. in Soil Science
Curious about soil formation and fertility, and using combination to manage soil-plant interactions.
Hobbies: discovering historical figures/places by reading or traveling, watching movies/documentaries, listening to music, and having conversations.
Jessica Nelson jnelson9@iastate.edu
Ph.D. Student in Soil Science & Sustainable Agriculture
Curious about the plant-microbe-soil interactions, building resiliency, and producing more balanced food.
Hobbies: gardening, traveling, hiking, training, healthy food, crystal collecting, and spending time with animals.
Ally Larson aclarson@iastate.edu
M.S. in Agronomy
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Curious about cover crops and the relationship between soil health and sustainable agriculture systems.
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Hobbies: reading, spending time with family and friends, and anything outdoors.
Max Eness meness@iastate.edu
M.S. in Soil Science
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Curious about the relationship between yield and sustainability, ag-based climate solutions and how plants influence their own environment.
Hobbies: games of all sorts, fencing, wood working and all things history.
Mila Victorio Pessotto pessotto@iastate.edu
Ph.D. in Agronomy
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Curious about sustainable production systems, cover crops, soil fertility and soil health.
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Hobbies: reading, barbecuing, and spending time with family and friends.
Megan Blauwet mblauwet@iastate.edu
M.S. in Soil Science
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Curious about soil health, nutrient cycling, and agricultural sustainability.
Hobbies: hiking, traveling, taking care of house plants, and spending time with friends and family.
Michael Cook mlcook@iastate.edu
M.S. in Sustainable Agriculture, Soil Science
Curious about chemistry, soil fertility, mycology.
Hobbies: weightlifting, painting, cycling, guitar, and linguistics.
Summer Bjorn summ@iastate.edu
M.S. in Soil Science
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Curious about nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and soil ecology.
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Hobbies: playing pickleball and racquetball, weightlifting, volunteering, and playing board games with my husband.
Wyatt Bailey wjbailey@iastate.edu
M.S. in Entomology & Soil Science
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Curious about sustainable cropping systems, integrated pest management, and plant-insect-soil interactions.
Hobbies: gardening, drawing, cooking, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
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Undergraduate Students
Marisol Argueta-Hernandez marisol1@iastate.edu
B.S. in Horticulture
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Curious about sustainability and plant and floral recreation.
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Hobbies: crafting, movie nights, and singing.
Grace Wetterling gracew27@iastate.edu
B.S. in Microbiology
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Curious about plant, soil, and microbe interactions, the effects of cover cropping, and the future of our soils.
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Hobbies: baking, cooking, reading, and puzzles.
Philip Young youngp@iastate.edu
B.S. in Agronomy
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Curious about soil microbiomes in cropping systems, soil structure formation, physics of runoff, and wetland dynamics.
Hobbies: cooking, reading, gaming, and enjoying nature.
Marina Guadagnucci marinag@iastate.edu
B.S. in Agronomy
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Curious about bioenergy production, commodities trading, soil health, and fertility.
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Hobbies: hanging out with friends and family, painting, and cooking.
Anastasiia Hutsal hutsal@iastate.edu
B.S. in Healthcare Management
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Curious about social media marketing, healthcare, and communications.
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Hobbies: training animals, volunteering, and biking.
Dori Waschkat dori@iastate.edu
B.S. in Agronomy
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​Curious about sustainable agriculture, cropping systems, and soil health.
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Hobbies: gardening, cooking, and hiking.
Alexis Brinkman abrink22@iastate.edu
B.S. in Agronomy
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​Curious about plant and soil interaction, as well as corn and soybean genetics.
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Hobbies: painting, hunting, reading, and hanging out with friends and family.
Grace Root groot014@iastate.edu
B.S. in Agronomy
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​Curious about cropping systems and GMO farming.
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Hobbies: sports, particularly soccer and basketball, camping, board and card games, and fishing.
...this could be you
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