The Rhizosphere Dynamics Lab Team
CHRISTINE SPRUNGER, PhD
Principal Investigator
Dr. Christine Sprunger joined the School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University as an Assistant Professor of Soil Science and Rhizosphere Processes in the fall of 2018. Her research focuses on the intersection of agriculture and the environment, where she investigates how climate change impacts crop production, nutrient cycling and rhizosphere dynamics. In addition, much of Christine’s work addresses how crop diversity, perenniality, and reduced tillage contribute to important ecosystem services such as soil carbon sequestration and nitrogen use. Christine also conducts interdisciplinary research with social scientists to understand farmer perceptions of soil health and climate adaptation.
MEREDITH MANN, BA
Research Assistant
Meredith joined the Rhizosphere Dynamics Lab in the beginning of September 2019, after working for The Ohio State University's Soil Fertility Lab since 2017. As lab manager, she will be overseeing lab operations and analyses, coordinating field research trials across Ohio, and facilitating graduate and undergraduate research. Meredith is a northeast Ohio native with a B.A. in Geology from the College of Wooster. She enjoys working with the environment and in her free time can be found hiking, reading, and tending sheep.
TVISHA MARTIN, BS
TVISHA MARTIN, MS
Graduate Student
Tvisha Martin obtained her B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Toledo in May, 2019. She joins the Sprunger Lab as a Master's student and will be studying the effects of tillage and crop rotation on nitrogen allocation and rhizosphere dynamics in OSU's legacy experimental site: The Triplett and Van Doren Long-term Tillage Research Plots in Wooster, OH. Tvisha's research interests include soil fertility, nitrogen and carbon dynamics, food security, rhizosphere ecology, preventative practices for nutrient run-off, and soil science extension and outreach efforts. In her free time, Tvisha enjoys running, hiking, and reading a good book.
PRABHJOT SINGH, BA
Graduate Student
Prabhjot Singh graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in June of 2019 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art and Biology. In the Fall of 2019, Prabhjot joins the Sprunger Lab as she works towards her Masters in the Environmental Science Graduate Program at OSU. She is interested in studying both qualitative and quantitative data to understand the effects of the climate on soil and soil management practices. Furthermore, she hopes to understand effective modes of communicating scientific research with broader audiences. Prabhjot also enjoys running, crocheting, painting, and cooking in her free time.
COLE GOLDMAN, BS
Graduate Student
Cole is ecstatic to be joining the Rhizosphere Dynamics Lab. He is starting as a master's student, after having obtained his B.S. in Biological Sciences from Colorado State University. Cole will be studying how severe weather, specifically flooding, impacts crop yield, soil food webs and nutrient cycling; as well as developing post-flood nutrient application recommendations to remedy flooding impacts. Additionally, Cole is interested in researching soil nematode biodiversity, mycorrhizae symbiosis, food security and the impacts of climate change on global soil integrity. Cole loves to hike, listen to nearly any kind of music, and enjoys an iced mocha while walking through a park.
Former Lab Members
Research Assistants
Nicole Hoekstra, M.S.
Louceline Fleuridor, M.S.