Sophia Gomez
Masters Student
Department of Biology
sophiag24@vt.edu
Google Scholar

Sophia is interested in studying the impacts of climate change as reflected in shifting biogeochemical cycling in streams and soils in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Her thesis focuses on the influence of microbial communities on the composition, cycling, and sequestration of organic matter in Dry Valley soils as well as in the stream/soil ecotone.

Elsa Waidelich
Masters Student
Department of Biology
elsalw@vt.edu
LinkedIn

Elsa is interested in soil systems as a nexus of environmental processes. She feels that work in this field provides support for human stakeholders to reduce and reverse harm to the anthropogenic-dominated world (carbon sequestration, pollution reduction, protecting biodiversity). Some of Elsa’s specific interests are nutrient cycling, sustainable agriculture, carbon sequestration, soil organic matter and soil health.

Ryan Snow
PhD Student
Department of Biology
ryansnow@vt.edu
GitHub
LinkedIn

Ryan is interested in the ecophysiological adaptations of microbial communities in an Antarctic polar desert. He seeks to understand the mechanisms supporting microbial community survival in extreme abiotic conditions. His research topics include microbial stress adaptation, microbial metabolic ecology, community interactions with their environment, and astrobiology.