DR. CHUCK RICE
University Distinguished Professor
Principal Investigator
Charles (Chuck) Rice is a University Distinguished Professor and holds the Vanier University Professorship at Kansas State University. He is a Professor of Soil Microbiology in the Department of Agronomy. He earned his degrees from Northern Illinois University and the University of Kentucky. Dr. Rice teaches courses and conducts research on soil carbon and nitrogen, soil health, microbial ecology, and climate change impacts on agricultural and grassland ecosystems.
DR. MARCOS SARTO
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Marcos Sarto is a post-doctoral researcher at the Soil Microbial Agroecology Lab. He received his B.S. and M.S degrees in agronomy from Western Paraná State University. Followed by a Ph.D. from Sao Paulo State University in 2017 with collaborative research with KSU. Marcos has been conducting research on integrated cropping systems that emphasizes soil conservation, sustainable agriculture, soil carbon sequestration, soil aggregation, soil microbial community, and soil health.
DR. DJANIRA NEGRÃO
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Djanira Negrão is a Biologist and works as a post-doctoral researcher at the Soil Microbial Agroecology Lab. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Agronomy at São Paulo State University and her Ph.D. in Science at the University of São Paulo in collaboration with the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto, where she worked in bio-nanotechnology as a postdoctoral fellow. As an associated researcher at Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR/CNPEM), Djanira has been researching biomass quality and monetization. This is done by understanding the role of inorganics in biomass conversion to biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials with synchrotron and electron microscopy techniques. At K-state, she is currently studying how biomass ashes are used to aggregate soil and store soil carbon over time.
CARLOS B. PIRES
Ph.D. Student
Originally from Southern Brazil, Carlos is a Ph.D. student in Agronomy and Soil Science at Kansas State University. He received his BS in Agronomy from the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil, in 2016, and his Master’s degree in Soil Science in 2018 from the same university. His research focuses on testing agricultural practices to improve soil health on the farm level. He is conducting state-wide on-farm studies to measure and communicate the economic and environmental benefits of different soil management practices and generating recommendations for farmers to improve the productivity and sustainability of their farms. On the extension side, Carlos has organized and participated in soil health field days to share his findings and work to raise awareness with farmers about the importance of making agriculture more resilient and sustainable. Carlos enjoys playing soccer, fishing, kayaking, and relaxing around a campfire.
ENDY LOPES KAILER
Ph.D. Student
Born and raised in a small-scale farm in Brazil, Endy is a PhD student in the Agronomy and Soil Science program at Kansas State University. Endy’s research focuses in the use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in enhancing soil health, aggregation stability and carbon sequestration. Endy received her B.S. degree in Agronomy from Federal University of Viçosa and University of Kentucky and her M.S. degree in Agronomy/Plant Science from Federal University of Viçosa as well. Working with soil science since her first semester as an undergraduate student, Endy has great experience in soil fertility and microbiology. In her free time, Endy enjoys cooking, swimming and playing with her dog.
IROSHA WANITHUNGA
Ph.D. Student
Irosha is a Ph.D. student in the Agronomy and Soil Science Program at Kansas State University. Irosha’s research interests are in soil microbiology, greenhouse gases, process-based models, and climate change effects. Currently, Irosha is investigating the Nitrous Oxide flux in corn cropping systems that are inoculated with associative nitrogen fixers. Irosha received his MS in Agronomy from Kansas State University in 2019 where he investigated the effect of land use management on soil methane oxidation.
JESSICA BEZERRA
Ph.D. Student
Originally from the Midwest of Brazil, Jessica is a Ph.D. student in the Agronomy and Soil Science program at Kansas State University in the Soil Microbial Agroecology Lab. Jessica received her B.S. degree in Agronomy from the Federal University of Mato Grosso and her M.S. degree in Agronomy/Plant Nutrition from the University of Sao Paulo and the University of Queensland, in Australia. Her master’s thesis focused on studying soybean to evaluate biological nitrogen fixation under different Nickel sources, working with different techniques, such as XRF (X-ray fluorescence) and synchrotron in Melbourne. Currently, her research focuses on nitrogen-15, and nitrogen mineralization under different on-farm practices.
CESAR A. GUARESCHI
Master's Student
Cesar Augusto Guareschi is a master student majoring in Agronomy at Kansas State University in the Soil Microbial Agroecology Lab. He received his B.S. in Agronomy from the University of Passo Fundo, Brazil. Cesar’s research focuses on on-farm soil health across Kansas.
WAGNER SQUIZANI
Master's Student
Wagner Squizani is a master's student in the Agronomy department at Kansas State University. He received his BS in Forestry Engineer from the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil (2021). Collaborated of the Study Group on Fertilization Prediction and Contamination Potential of Elements in Soils (GEPACES) (2016 - 2020). He is currently Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) at Kansas States University, conducting research on effect of root associated bacteria on corn nitrogen use efficiency.
TIFFANY POYDRAS
Master's Student
Tiffany Poydras is a master's student in Agronomy and Soil Science program at Kansas State University. She received her bachelor's in Agriculture from Southern University A &M College, an HBCU in her hometown, Baton rouge Louisiana. Her current research focuses on investigating the effect precipitation, land use, and soil depth has on soil health and carbon stocks.
PRISCILA MARCHIORO
Lab Manager
Priscila has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Federal University of Parana and a master degree from Federal University of Viçosa. She has experience working with citogenetic techniques, molecular biology, DNA extraction, real-time PCR applied for the detection of diseases and the analysis of physical, physiological and health quality of seeds. She is currently working as a Research Scholar in the Soil Microbial Agroecology Laboratory at K-State.
PEDRO HENRIQUE SOUZA
Research Scholar
Pedro has a B.S. degree in Nutrition Science from Viçosa’s University in Brazil and is currently working as a Research Scholar at the Soil Microbial Agroecology Laboratory at Kansas State University. Pedro has experience in working with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, agronomic biofortification and soil science analysis techniques. Pedro enjoys being outdoors, exercising and cooking in his free time.
REGAN KONZ
Undergraduate Student
Regan Konz is a Senior Pre-medicine/Microbiology major at Kansas State University. She currently serves as an undergraduate research assistant, the group’s social chair, and is conducting a research project examining the relationship between land use and microbial antibiotic resistance. She is planning to pursue a MD/Ph.D in the future to work as a physician scientist.
CHARLES CAUDILL
Undergraduate Student
Charles grew up in Manhattan, KS and is a returning undergrad student majoring in Microbiology. His prior degrees from K-State include a BS in Biology, a BS in Secondary Education and a Masters in Adult and Continuing Education.
KACIE REED
Undergraduate Student
Kacie Reed is an Undergraduate Student at Kansas State University. She is working towards a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. Kacie currently works as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Soil Microbial Agroecology Lab where she assists with greenhouse gas sampling and soil analysis. She is planning to pursue a career in Operations Research.
MARCOS BONINI PIRES
Undergraduate Student
Marcos is a visiting researcher from Brazil and a student of agronomy at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil. He is a technician in agriculture and livestock (Federal Farroupilha Institute). His main topics of interest are soil quality, methods of assessing soil quality on the farm, stability of soil aggregates and Visual Assessment of Soil Structure (VESS). Marcos' hobbies include camping, hiking, playing soccer, and photography. He is planning to obtain a Masters Degree in the future to work as an agricultural researcher.
MATHEUS ALTARIUGIO
Undergraduate Student
Matheus is a Brazilian exchange student and student of BSc. in Agronomic at the University of São Paulo (USP). He is currently a student intern at the Soil Microbial Agroecology Laboratory at K-State. He also worked at SOHMA (Soil Health and Management Research Group) from USP with a focus on soil health. He also has a technical education in administration.