Bjorn, Summer

Summer Bjorn is a Graduate Research Assistant working under the supervision of Dr. Marshall McDaniel. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Soil Science, focusing her research on carbon and nitrogen cycling in systems amended with anaerobic digestate and manure. Her research interests include nutrient cycling, soil greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon storage, and science communication. Summer is originally from St. Louis and earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Missouri in 2022. Following her undergraduate studies, she moved to Thailand, where she taught sixth grade science for two years. Outside of the lab, she enjoys weightlifting, playing board games, and learning new languages.

 

Research interests: nutrient cycling, soil greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon storage, soil microbiology, communicating science with the public

Burras, C. Lee

I contribute to ISU through teaching, advising, and research. I work on-campus, around Iowa & internationally. As a teacher and adviser I seek to foster scientific understanding, career preparedness and lifelong learning. My research examines natural soil formation, human-induced soil transformations, and inherent soil productivity. I share my findings through scholarly journal articles, soil survey interpretations, professional reports and outreach presentations.

I joined the Department of Agronomy in 1995 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor and Professor in 2001 and 2007, respectively.  I was awarded Morrill Professor in 2020.   I came to ISU from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, where I was an Assistant Professor (1990 to 1995).

Selected Awards

  • The Milkman Family Mentorship Award, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Student Council, 2022
  • Faculty Escort at Commencement for Student Marshal Payten Watson, 2022.
  • Team Award (Uganda Program), College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, 2020
  • Senior Marshal, Iowa State University, 2017
  • Team Award (Master Gardener Program), College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, 2016
  • Patriotic Employer, Secretary of the Department of Defense – Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve, 2015
  • Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, 2013
  • Women in Agronomy Mentoring, ASA-CSSA-SSSA, 2012
  • Excellence in University Teaching, USDA, 2011
  • Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching, ISU, 2010
  • Soil Science Resident Education, SSSA, 2009
  • Agronomy Resident Education, ASA, 2008
  • Excellence in Academic Advising, ISU, 2007

Gusmao, Marcal

I am a research visitor working on soybean adaptation to drought.

Diop, Alioune

Alioune Diop is a Graduate Research Assistant and a Master’s student in Soil Science , working under the guidance of Dr. Richard Roth, a soil fertility specialist. His research focuses on improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Perennial Groundcover Corn Cropping systems. Alioune utilizes the Nitrogen-15 isotope labeling method to investigate nitrogen dynamics, specifically the fate of fertilizer applied in these innovative cropping systems. Originally from Senegal, West Africa, Alioune earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Bethel University in Tennessee. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer with friends.