Members | Grossman Lab

Julie Grossman, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Julie (she/her/hers) is passionate about how science can help us better understand plant-soil interactions in agroecological systems, and how we can best co-create that knowledge together with farmers, students, and society. Originally from western Illinois, Julie received her graduate training at the University of Minnesota in Agronomy and Plant Genetics with an emphasis in Agroecology in Spring 2003. She was an NSF postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University, and then a faculty member at North Carolina State University in the Department of Soil Science, prior to joining the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota in 2014. At UMN, Julie is the Organic Program Coordinator for the College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, and an affiliated faculty member of the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change.

Location: 454 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: 612-625-8597, [email protected]

Rebecca Fudge

Ph.D. Candidate

Rebecca (she/her/hers) is a Ph.D. candidate in the Plant and Microbial Biology program studying rhizobia ecology of winter annual cover cropping systems. Originally from Southern California, she studied Genetics and Environmental Policy at Northwestern University and is excited to apply her knowledge to sustainable food systems. Outside of lab, Rebecca is most likely to be found tearing through a stack of novels or learning to cross-country ski.

Location: 358 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

Ivan Carlos Carreiro Almeida, Ph.D.

Visiting Scholar Researcher
Ivan (he/him/his) comes from Brazil to spend a sabbatical. He is an agronomist with a master's and doctorate in Soil Science and works as a professor at IFNMG, which is a Federal Public Institution in Brazil. In addition to teaching, he conducts extension projects with farmers to help them make the transition from conventional agriculture to agroecological production. He came to Minnesota to learn about the teaching, research and extension work being done in the United States focused on agroecology and organic agriculture and what are the challenges faced and the technologies used by farmers in the production of organic food.In the laboratory, he wants to keep up to date with the protocols, methodologies and equipment used to assess soil quality. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, hiking and trekking in the wilderness.

Location: 324 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

Ava McCune

Research Assistant

Ava McCune Ava (she/her/hers) is originally from Fairport, NY, and is an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities majoring in Plant Science with a focus in Agroecology and minoring in Soil Science. Her passions include soil health and pedology, and she is a big fan of legumes.

Her current research evaluates the long-term effects of winter cover cropping in high tunnel systems on soil health. Additionally, she has been involved in two undergraduate research projects within high tunnel systems, and has really enjoyed being involved in the research process. When not in the lab or in a soil pit, Ava enjoys hiking, cooking, and camping!

Location: 455 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

Thanwalee (JiJY) Sooksa-nguan, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Thanwalee aka JiJY (she/her/hers) is interested in plant-microbes interaction in agricultural systems who likes to spend most of her time in the lab. JiJY is originally from Thailand where she earned her Ph.D. in Biotechnology in Suranaree University of Technology. She received a Royal Golden Jubilee Scholarship from the Thai Government to do part of her Ph.D. thesis at Cornell University, where she started her journey in the U.S. She then became a postdoctoral associate and a researcher at Cornell University, North Carolina State University, University of Minnesota and Iowa State University. JiJY is an amateur/published photographer who loves to chase for beautiful landscapes and the northern lights. She also enjoys taking care of houseplants in her free time.

Location: 436 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

Gabriela Hidrobo

Ph.D. Candidate

Gabriela (she/her/hers) comes from the Andes of Ecuador where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Agro-industrial Engineering at the National Polytechnic School. She then traveled to Cairns-Australia to complete a Master's program in Natural Resources Management at James Cook University. She is passionate about co-creating organic farming projects that enhance health and resilience in the agroecosystem. Gabriela worked as a full-time lecturer and researcher at her alma mater for five years, teaching Biology, Chemistry, and Crop Science, and participated in research about fungal enzymes. As a Fulbright scholar, she is now interested in investigating the degree to which warm-season cover crop management impacts soil microbial community composition and function. Outside of the lab, Gabriela enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, family farming, cooking, and live concerts.

Location: 328 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

Adynn Stedillie

Research Assistant
Adynn (they/them/theirs), originally from Minnetonka, Minnesota, is an undergraduate research intern studying Plant Science with an interest in sustainable and international agriculture. They’ve been working with Grossman Lab exploring the many interesting opportunities within field and lab work, and especially loves working with extracellular enzymatic assays of cover crop-treated soils with their mentor. Being a part of this lab has been a highlight of undergrad! Outside of the lab, they love to hang out with their bearded dragon Fishie, cook with home-grown ingredients, and knit!

Location: 455 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

Elise Barros

Great River School Internship Program - Fall 2023
Elise (ze/zem/zer) is senior at Great River High School in Saint Paul and is very excited to be here since ze are planning to major in Biochemistry or Environmental science. Ze is excited to get lab experience before college and is looking forward to learning how the lab works with hands-on tools and current topics. A visit to the Kernza fields last year fanned the flame of zer interest in plant biology and science.

Adria Fernandez, Ph.D.

Research Scientist
Project Lead, Summer Cover Crops Project

Adria (she/her/hers) is a naturalized Minnesotan originally from Wisconsin whose organic career began fifteen years ago as a watermelon picker at Gardens of Eagan Organic Farm in Lakeville, MN. She is now a postdoctoral associate in the Grossman Lab and her research investigates the influences of cover crops and rotational diversity on microbially mediated soil nutrient cycling functions. Adria has collaborated with many organic farmers in on-farm research, and her aim as a researcher is to integrate farmers' expertise and experience into our understanding of the science of agriculture, while supporting practical strategies for reducing bare-soil time in crop rotations. When not in the field, Adria enjoys hiking, biking and cross-country skiing with her family, and moonlights as a competitive bagpiper.

Location: 426 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

Hannah Walsh

Masters Student
Hannah (she/her/hers) is a Masters student interested in studying agroecological practices and soil health. She currently works on a MDA-supported project, which focuses on various effects of planting and termination time of winter legumes in high tunnels. Originally from the Midwest, Hannah graduated with her Bachelors in Plant Science with an emphasis in Agroecology, from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Hannah began working with the Grossman Lab as a Junior and it sparked her love for field research and a desire to pursue a Graduate degree in soil science. She aims to work as a soil scientist in a position that assists farmers with making educated decisions about best management practices that build and maintain soil health and productivity.

She and her husband aspire to build a farm of their own someday, with grass-fed cattle, chickens, horses and of course a high tunnel!

Location: 430 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

Lou Hoff

Research Assistant
Lou Hoff (they/them) is originally from Pardeeville, Wisconsin and is currently an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota and is majoring in Plant and Microbial Biology and minoring in Computational Biology and History. They are overjoyed to have the opportunity to be involved in research. Besides science, their hobbies include tending to their jungle of houseplants, reading, and attempting to learn the ukulele.

Location: 455 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

Margaret Moudry

Great River School Internship Program - Fall 2023
I, Margaret (they/them), am a current highschool senior at Great River School who is deeply interested in the intersections between environmental work and community centric climate justice. I have been drawn to research and advocacy that examines sustainable food systems and the relationship of sexual education to environmental justice. I am currently a member of a few youth advocacy groups in the Twin Cities: Youth Environmental Activists and Planned Parenthood’s Teen Council. My involvement with these groups frame the environmental research I participate in and reminds me of the importance of joy within science and community justice. Outside of this work, I love going on hikes and hammocking, attending local music shows, and reading!

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Former Graduate Students, Post-Docs and Staff

Marie Schaedel, Ph.D., Cornell University

Ezra Moses, M.S.

Bonsa Mohamed

Alexandria Derusha

Naomy Candelaria, M.S., Puerto Rico

Sharon Perrone, Ph.D., USDA

Vivian Wauters, Ph.D., University of California-Davis

Anne Pfeiffer, M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison

Miriam Gieske, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Illinois

Charlotte Thurston, M.S., Ann Arbor, MI

Fucui Li, Ph.D., China Agriculture University

Peyton Ginakes, Ph.D., Post-doc, University of Maine

Alex Liebman, M.S., Seattle, WA

Liz Perkus, M.S., Spain

Michelle Dobbratz, M.S., Ph.D. Student, University of Minnesota

Dan Raskin, M.S., Technician, University of Minnesota

Mary Parr, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Berea College

Nape Mothapo, M.S., Ph.D. Candidate, North Carolina State University

Arun Jani, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, California State University at Monterrey Bay

Erika Larsen, Physical Scientist, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Matthew Brown, International Farming Corporation, LLC

Chris Bordeaux, Director of Natural Resource Management, Unique Places, LLC

Brunda De Bacco Lopes

Mohamed Said Ibrahim

Former Lab Technicians, Interns, and Assistants

Damaris Ispache (Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) Summer Program - Summer 2023)

Anna Andreasen (Work internship from Macalester College - Summer 2023)

Sarah Duber (Lab Assistant - 2020-2023)

Anika Overvoorde (Great River School Internship Program - Fall 2022)

Isaiah Benti-Novotny (Great River School Internship Program - Fall 2022)

Talia Berkman (Work internship from Macalester College and Research assistant - Summer 2021-2022)

Maya Gabor (Work internship from Carleton College - Summer 2022)

Sarah Beth Hobby (Work internship from Macalester College - Summer 2022)

Oliver Hoffman (Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) Summer Program - Summer 2022)

David Foley

Frechno Boko

Tanner Beckstrom

Zala Čok

Mar Horns

Emily Swanson

Sarah Becknell

Justin Panka

Bonsa Mohamed

Siwook Hwang

Victoria Hoeppner

Loren Weber

Yordanose Solomone

Elayna Shapiro

Rachel Brann

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