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Graduate Students
Jennifer Holguin
Jennifer investigates the impact of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on plant communities, invasive plant management, and biogeochemical cycling at Carlsbad Caverns National Park (CAVE). CAVE has been modeled to be experiencing increased levels of nitrogen deposition due to nearby oil and gas activities. Nitrogen deposition can negatively impact ecosystems by reducing plant diversity, enhancing invasive plant growth, and can alter critical carbon and nitrogen cycling processes. Jennifer completed her four-year field experiments in 2021 and is currently wrapping up her dissertation.
Kathleen Schaeffer
Kathleen Schaeffer is a PhD candidate in Ecology and Environmental Biology. She is currently studying the effects of large scale land restoration practices on desert soils in the Chihuahuan Desert. After graduation, she wants to pursue a career in ecosystem conservation or restoration.
Dylan Stover
Dylan Stover is a PhD student in Ecology and Environmental Biology. He is a researcher in the Dryland Critical Zone thematic cluster, which studies carbon, nutrient, and hydrological processes in North American drylands. Dylan has established a nutrient addition in the Jornada Experimental Range to study phosphorus limitation in the Chihuahuan Desert.
Andrew Uccello
Andrew is a PhD student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. His interests are focused on the intersection of plants, small mammals, and ecosystem processes. His research asks questions about how small mammals affect stoichiometry and traits of plants across different temporal scales and ecosystem nutrient levels through herbivory and activity. Most of his work is performed in long term experiments in northern Alaskan tundra and the boreal forests around Kluane Lake, Canada. He hopes these questions will elucidate ecosystem processes which can help us understand rapidly changing arctic and boreal environments.
Undergraduate Researchers
Priscilla Castaneda
Priscilla is analyzing soils collected during her REU program at the Sevilleta LTER. Her work focuses on the effects of large, infrequent watering events compared to small, frequent watering events in an arid landscape.
Caleb Molinar
Caleb is a research assistant working with Dylan Stover on the Critical Zone nutrient addition project. He will graduate in Spring 2023 and hopes to begin a career as a field biologist.
