Courtney's research is broadly focused on how the chemistry and accessibility of soil organic matter influences its turnover and stabilization, and subsequently, how this impacts the functioning of natural and managed ecosystems.
Many of the global challenges we face (climate change, biodiversity loss, food security) are dependent upon soil processes, and her work examines current controls on soil carbon and nitrogen stability with the aim of predicting and managing the response of soils to global change scenarios. Her particular expertise lies in linking the quantity, accessibility, and chemical composition of soil carbon and nitrogen to microbial activity and community composition, using a variety of methods. Previous projects have focused plant-soil-microbe feedbacks in response along gradients of grassland and rangeland degradation (Australia and Texas), nutrient enrichment, and edaphic properties.
Professional Experience
2015 - present Research Microbiologist (post-doc), USGS, Menlo Park CA
2012 - 2015 Office of the Chief Executive Postdoctoral Fellow, CSIRO, Adelaide SA, Australia
2008 - 2012 Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN
2006 - 2007 Undergraduate Research Assistant, Miami University, Oxford OH
2005 - Laboratory Intern, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Purdue University, Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2012
B.A., Miami University (Ohio), Microbiology, 2007
Science and Products
Understanding Impacts of Sea-Level Rise and Land Management on Critical Coastal Marsh Habitat
Arctic Biogeochemical Response to Permafrost Thaw (ABRUPT)
Understanding Impacts of Sea-Level Rise and Land Management on Critical Coastal Marsh Habitat
Biogeochemistry of the Critical Zone: Origin and Fate of Organic Matter
Science and Products
- Science
Understanding Impacts of Sea-Level Rise and Land Management on Critical Coastal Marsh Habitat
To ensure successful restoration of coastal wetlands, WARC researchers will measure carbon cycling processes that indicate ecosystem health and sustainability.Arctic Biogeochemical Response to Permafrost Thaw (ABRUPT)
Warming and thawing of permafrost soils in the Arctic is expected to become widespread over the coming decades. Permafrost thaw changes ecosystem structure and function, affects resource availability for wildlife and society, and decreases ground stability which affects human infrastructure. Since permafrost soils contain about half of the global soil carbon (C) pool, the magnitude of C losses...Understanding Impacts of Sea-Level Rise and Land Management on Critical Coastal Marsh Habitat
Coastal wetlands are some of the most productive and valuable habitats in the world. Louisiana contains 40% of the coastal wetlands in the United States, which provide critical habitat for waterfowl and fisheries, as well as many other benefits, such as storm surge protection for coastal communities. In terms of ecosystem services, biological resource production, and infrastructure investments, thBiogeochemistry of the Critical Zone: Origin and Fate of Organic Matter
Changing temperature, precipitation, and land use intensification has resulted in global soil degradation. The accompanying loss of soil organic matter (SOM) decreases important soil health services. Soil organic matter is a major global pool of carbon; if SOM can be increased, soils can mitigate elevated atmospheric CO2. However, there are major knowledge gaps in SOM persistence. This project... - Publications
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