​DIRT Lab overview

who we are as scientists

guiding principles

  • Humans welcome: diversity is strength
  • Science is for the people (not just scientists)
  • Safety is more important than data
  • Collaboration not competition
  • The goal of science is the truth
  • Minimize environmental impact
  • Credit where credit is due

research interests

  • ​​Ecology and restoration of biological soil crust
  • Applied restoration science
  • Mycorrhizal ecology
  • Plant-Soil feedbacks​
  • Soil microfauna 

what is a biocrust?
Weber et al. 2022
"Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) result from an intimate association between soil particles and differing proportions of photoautotrophic (e.g. cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, bryophytes) and heterotrophic (e.g. bacteria, fungi, archaea) organisms, which live within, or immediately on top of, the uppermost millimetres of soil. Soil particles are aggregated through the presence and activity of these often extremotolerant biota that desiccate regularly, and the resultant living crust covers the surface of the ground as a coherent layer."

Latest NEWs

Ph.D. position in our lab available starting Fall 2025 semester

dirt lab

School of Forestry
Northern Arizona University
Box 15018
200 E Pine Knoll Dr
Flagstaff, Arizona
86011

Center for Ecosystem Science & Society
Northern Arizona University
Box 5620
Flagstaff, AZ 86011

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