RESEARCH FOCUS
We investigate the biology, ecology and management of plant-associated microbes of agricultural crops grown in the California Salinas Valley and beyond.
My research program focuses on studying Phytobiomes. I apply ecological principles and approaches to elucidate the role that biotic and abiotic factors play in shaping plant-microbiome interactions, and to develop practical applications for enhancing plant and soil health, and promoting biological suppression of plant pathogens. Research projects in the lab integrate field experiments, model ecosystems, and traditional microbial culture-based approaches. I employ cutting-edge microscopy, metabolomics, and metagenomic techniques to investigate the mechanisms that mediate the composition and function of soil microbiomes, with the goal to designing novel management strategies necessary to manipulate soil properties and generate microbial communities that are predictably and consistently inhibitory to important plant pathogens, and serve as alternatives to soil fumigation.