Our Team

Nine members of the Grossman Lab stand together and smile for the camera

Meet our team and learn about the cool things

we do, inside and outside the lab!

JULIE GROSSMAN, PH.D.

Principal Investigator

Julie (she/her/hers) is passionate about how science can help us better understand plant-soil interactions in agroecological systems, and how we can best co-create that knowledge together with farmers, students, and society. Originally from western Illinois, Julie received her graduate training at the University of Minnesota in Agronomy and Plant Genetics with an emphasis in Agroecology in Spring 2003. She was an NSF postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University, and then a faculty member at North Carolina State University in the Department of Soil Science, prior to joining the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota in 2014. At UMN, Julie is the Organic Program Coordinator for the College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, and an affiliated faculty member of the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change.

Location: 454 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: 612-625-8597, [email protected]

REBECCA FUDGE

Ph.D. Student

Rebecca (she/her/hers) is a Ph.D. student in the Plant and Microbial Biology program studying rhizobia ecology of winter annual cover cropping systems. Originally from Southern California, she studied Genetics and Environmental Policy at Northwestern University and is excited to apply her knowledge to sustainable food systems. Outside of lab, Rebecca is most likely to be found tearing through a stack of novels or learning to cross-country ski.

Location: 358 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

MADISON MOSES

Ph.D. Student

Madison (they/them/theirs) is a Ph.D. student interested in the effects of ecologically-based agricultural practices on soil nutrient cycling. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Madison studied Environmental Studies, Biology, and Food Studies at Ursinus College. Madison has been an N-head since their first day of soils research and they are happy to be continuing their investigation of nitrogen processes in cover cropping systems. Their goal is to better integrate agroecological soils research into farming communities such that farmers gain a sense of agency over their nutrient management strategies and the ways they interact with the environment. In their spare time, Madison loves to continue their 20-year-long passion for dance, play with their dog, drink too much coffee, and generally be a jack-of-all-trades.

Location: 440 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

ZALA ČOK

Research Intern

Zala (she/her/hers) is originally from Plavje, Slovenia and is a senior at Macalester College majoring in Biology. She is delighted to have had the opportunity to intern in the Grossman Lab and become acquainted with soil research and a group of amazing scientists. Her research interests involve human genetics, plant breeding, and bioethics. When not studying or helping around the lab, Zala enjoys knitting, painting, and baking--her personal favorites are pies and oatmeal raisin cookies.

Location: 455 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

SHARON PERRONE

Ph.D. Candidate

Sharon (she/her/hers) is originally from South Jersey and is a Ph.D. candidate in the Applied Plant Sciences program on the Agroecology track. Sharon's Ph.D. research seeks to understand relationships between short-cycling soil health metrics and long-cycling soil physical characteristics at depth under different agricultural management systems. She is broadly interested in the nexus of science and social movements and the integration of multiple forms of knowledge necessary to develop approaches to manage wicked problems of food and agriculture. When not troubleshooting methodologies in the lab, she can be found working on improving her (minor) skills in her favorite hobbies, which include various instruments, cleaning/fixing/tinkering, observing the erratic and endearing behavior of local squirrels, sending silly videos to her niece and nephews, and roller blading.

Location: 430 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

NAOMY CANDELARIA

M.S. Candidate

Naomy (she/her/hers) is a Puerto Rican who earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Puerto Rico, Utuado. She is a CFANS Diversity Fellow in the Applied Plant Science program, where she is working with Drs. Julie Grossman and Mary Rogers. Her research explores ecosystem services provided by summer cover crops, particularly nutrient contribution and beneficial insect attraction. Naomy is passionate about promoting environmental sustainability and giving back to her community. In her future she wishes to use her knowledge to manage an agroecological farm to promote resilience and support Puerto Rican sustainability and food sovereignty. In her free time, Naomy enjoys hiking, going to beaches and rivers, and dancing.

Location: 266 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

HARRISON REED

M.S. Student

Harrison (he/him/his) is a Masters student researching winter cover crops and their ability to uptake water. Originally from Montana, he has worked on various vegetable farms there, including one operated by his father. Harrison's research aims to provide vegetable farmers with solutions to reduce excess soil moisture in the spring to allow for earlier season field work. In his free time he enjoys biking, listening to music, mushroom hunting, and growing/eating vegetables!

Location: Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

BONSA MOHAMED

Researcher 1

Bonsa (he/him/his) graudated from Augsburg University in 2020 with majors in Environmental Studies and Urban Planning. Originally from Oromia in Ethiopia, and raised in Uganda, Bonsa began working in the Grossman Lab as an intern from 2017-18. After a brief break, Bonsa rejoined the lab in 2020 and currently works as a full time research technician. He plans to get more lab experience and then apply to graduate school. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the natural world and spending time with friends and family.

Location: 436 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

SARAH DUBER

Research Assistant

Sarah (she/her/hers) is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in the Plant Science major on the Plant Breeding track. She is thrilled to have worked in the Grossman Lab as a research assistant since 2019 and is always excited to see what new research projects are going on in the lab. When not in the lab or studying, she enjoys exploring the cities, running, yoga, and tending to all of her houseplants.

Location: 455 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

MARIE SCHAEDEL

Ph.D. Candidate

Marie (she/her/hers) earned her B.A. in Biology at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. After graduating in 2015, she stayed at Carleton to work as an Educational Associate in her advisor's lab studying bacterial wilt disease in tomato plants. To gain more field experience outside the lab, Marie served as a Peace Corps Environment and Food Security Volunteer in Togo, West Africa. Her principal projects in Togo included supporting girls' education in the sciences as well as introducing rabbit husbandry as income-generating activity among farmers' cooperatives. As a Ph.D. candidate in the Grossman Lab, Marie now works in Rwanda to understand microbial diversity and nutrient cycling in perennial forage systems. Marie is a vegetarian and cross-country skier.

Location: 452 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

ADRIA FERNANDEZ, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Researcher
Project Lead, Summer Cover Crops Project

Adria (she/her/hers) is a naturalized Minnesotan originally from Wisconsin whose organic career began fifteen years ago as a watermelon picker at Gardens of Eagan Organic Farm in Lakeville, MN. She is now a postdoctoral associate in the Grossman Lab and her research investigates the influences of cover crops and rotational diversity on microbially mediated soil nutrient cycling functions. Adria has collaborated with many organic farmers in on-farm research, and her aim as a researcher is to integrate farmers' expertise and experience into our understanding of the science of agriculture, while supporting practical strategies for reducing bare-soil time in crop rotations. When not in the field, Adria enjoys hiking, biking and cross-country skiing with her family, and moonlights as a competitve bagpiper.

Location: 426 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

GABRIELA HIDROBO

Ph.D. Student

Gabriela (she/her/hers) comes from the Andes of Ecuador where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Agro-industrial Engineering at the National Polytechnic School. She then traveled to Cairns-Australia to complete a Master's program in Natural Resources Management at James Cook University. She is passionate about co-creating organic farming projects that enhance health and resilience in the agroecosystem. Gabriela worked as a full-time lecturer and researcher at her alma mater for five years, teaching Biology, Chemistry, and Crop Science, and participated in research about fungal enzymes. As a Fulbright scholar, she is now interested in investigating the degree to which warm-season cover crop management impacts soil microbial community composition and function. Outside of the lab, Gabriela enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, family farming, cooking, and live concerts.

Location: 328 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

TANNER BECKSTROM

Research Technician

Tanner (he/him/his) is a Minnesota native whose passion for sustainable agriculture was sparked when studying the socioeconomic benefits of urban agriculture as an undergraduate. After receiving his B.A. in Global Studies from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Tanner learned about agroecological farming practices while working on a series of agroforestry projects in Northeast Brazil. In the past few years, he has worked in seasonal positions on organic farms in the Twin Cities metro area and worked in the food & beverage service industry. Tanner is excited to return to academia to explore the effects of ecological land management on nutrient cycling and soil health. In the Grossman Lab, he supports a variety of projects and manages our high tunnel on campus.

Location: 455 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Contact: [email protected]

Expand all

Former Graduate Students and Post-Docs

Vivian Wauters, Ph.D., University of California-Davis

Anne Pfeiffer, M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison

Miriam Gieske, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Illinois

Charlotte Thurston, M.S., Ann Arbor, MI

Fucui Li, Ph.D., China Agriculture University

Peyton Ginakes, Ph.D., Post-doc, University of Maine

Alex Liebman, M.S., Seattle, WA

Liz Perkus, Boston, MA

Michelle Dobbratz, M.S., Ph.D. Student, University of Minnesota

Dan Raskin, M.S., Technician, University of Minnesota

Thanwalee (JiJY) Sooksa-nguan, Ph.D.

Mary Parr, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Berea College

Nape Mothapo, M.S., Ph.D. Candidate, North Carolina State University

Arun Jani, M.S., PhD Candidate, University of Florida

Erika Larsen, Physical Scientist, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Matthew Brown, International Farming Corporation, LLC

Chris Bordeaux, Director of Natural Resource Management, Unique Places, LLC

Brunda De Bacco Lopes

Mohamed Said Ibrahim

Former Lab Technicians, Interns, and Assistants

Mar Horns

Emily Swanson

Sarah Becknell

Justin Panka

Bonsa Mohamed

Siwook Hwang

Victoria Hoeppner

Loren Weber

Yordanose Solomone

Elayna Shapiro

Rachel Brann

Nine members of the Grossman lab stand together and pose with silly faces

Nine members of the Grossman Lab stand together and look at Julie, who is posing with her tongue out and both hands in peace signs

+ Former Graduate Students and Post-Docs

+ Former Lab Technicians, Interns, and Assistants

Connect With Us

Former Graduate Students and Post-Docs

Former Lab Technicians, Interns, and Assistants