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Micah U
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of Kansas
Expertise
Earth Science, Climate Change, Carbon Sequestration, Soil Science, Critical Zone Science, Carbon Cycling, Biogeochemistry
Bio
I study how chemical and biological processes influence the global carbon cycle: the flow of carbon between the atmosphere, ocean, and soil. In particular, I'm interested in why some small fraction of the organic matter that enters the soil -- decaying plant material, for example -- remains there for millennia while the rest is decomposed within a few years. Understanding the balance between how much carbon is stored and how much is lost via decomposition has a direct impact on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. I'm excited about this work because of its potential to contribute to climate change solutions. I'm also drawn to it because it's on the frontiers of science: about ten years ago, new analytical techniques made it clear to scientists that the accepted model of soil carbon storage was wrong. What controls the persistence and spatial arrangement of soil carbon remains one of the central, unanswered questions in soil science. I'm a runner and spend as much time as possible doing anything that gets me moving and outdoors. I love kayaking, snorkeling, camping, exploring new places, hiking, and meeting new people. I also make time each day to do some reading for personal enjoyment. Currently, I'm reading The Alchemy of Air by Thomas Hager.Project ideas
Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.
The effects of lawn fertilizer on backyard microbes
This project combines a literature review with a simple experiment. The student will read about how different types of fertilizer can influence microbial life. They will think about what impacts this could have on the surrounding environment and construct a series of Winogradsky columns using locally collected soils to see if there are observable differences between soils treated using different types of fertilizers. Image credit: https://elizabethmcd.github.io/R-amplicons/00-project-overview.html
Coding skills
R, C++Teaching experience
I mentor undergraduates in my lab and tutor middle- and high-school students in math and science. Previously, I worked as the informal education coordinator at a science museum, where I designed and implemented activities for students of all ages. My experience also includes time spend working as a university lab instructor, a consultant at a university writing center, and a high school SAT writing instructor and college admissions advisor.Credentials
Work experience
University of Kansas Natural History Museum (2022 - Current)
Informal Science Education CoordinatorSelf-employed (2017 - Current)
TutorUniversity of Kansas (2021 - Current)
Writing ConsultantUniversity of Kansas (2021 - 2022)
Graduate Teaching AssistantEducation
Rockhurst College
BS Bachelor of Science (2019)
Molecular BiologyUniversity of Kansas
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Biogeochemistry. I study the carbon cycle, particularly the processes that regulate long-term carbon storage in the soil (carbon sequestration)