Schwarck, Lauren
Saha, Iman
Safranek, Emma
Freitas, Carolina
Platero, Derrick
I am a PhD student in soil science under Dr. Bradley Miller, focusing on modeling landscape evolution and topsoil loss in Iowa. My research uses three different models specializing in geomorphology and agriculture to compare their outcomes and assess their effectiveness in predicting landscape change.
Topsoil loss is a critical issue as it reduces soil productivity, disrupts agricultural sustainability, and contributes to water pollution. Eroded sediment carries nutrients, fertilizers, and contaminants into waterways, impacting aquatic ecosystems and water quality. By modeling these processes, I try to improve our understanding of how soil erosion affects landscapes and hydrological systems over time. Beyond my current work, I have diverse research experience through past internships in volcanology, river hydrology, and uranium contamination on tribal lands in New Mexico. My broader interests lie in soil geography, ecosystem hydrology, and land, water, and sediment transport interactions.
My research focuses on soil science and landscape evolution, groundwater contamination through hydrogeochemical processes, and the impacts of Anthropocene-driven changes on Earth’s critical systems. I study how human activities—such as deforestation, agricultural intensification, urbanization, and industrial pollution—alter soil properties, sediment transport, and water quality. I would also like to examine groundwater depletion, contamination from fertilizers and heavy metals, and the impact of climate change on accelerating erosion and desertification. Using computational modeling, I seek to predict and quantify these changes to understand long-term environmental dynamics and sustainability better.
Panthulugiri, Srikanth
Osterloh, Marissa
Moran, Jack
Larson, Ashton
Larson, Ally
Ally Larson is a graduate research assistant working with Dr. Marshall McDaniel and Dr. Mark Licht. She is working towards a master’s degree in Soil Science, with her research focusing on cereal rye decomposition, SOC changes due to cover crop manipulation, and corn ‘yield drag’ associated with cover crop use. Through her research, she hopes to provide a comprehensive image of the effects of long-term cereal rye use in a no-till corn-soy rotation production system, illustrating the effects on crop production and soil depths up to one meter. Ally is originally from north central Iowa. She was involved in her family’s farming operation growing up, which started her passion for agriculture. Ally attended Iowa State University and received her bachelor’s degree in Agronomy and Environmental Science. During her undergrad, she worked as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Mark Licht. Outside her academic work, Ally enjoys spending time with friends and family, attending various sporting events, and reading.