People

Xiaojun Allen Liu, Ph.D.

Allen’s research focuses on microbial carbon use efficiency, plant–microbe interactions, and soil biogeochemistry under global change. He integrates genomic tools, stable isotope probing, and field experiments to uncover how microbial traits and community dynamics regulate soil nutrient cycling under climate change.

Yifeng Cao, Ph.D. Student

Yifeng studies comutational and eco-evolutionary dynamics experiments. She is passionate about understanding species interactions and biodiversity. Yifeng is harnessing techniques from machine learning and lab experiments to complete her projects. She is also teaching an undergraduate general biology lab (BIOL 1209L). 

Jada Daniels, Ph.D. Student

Jada's research focuses on the effects of habitat fragmentation on plant-microbe interactions in aquatic ecosystems. She mainly works with duckweed and other aquatic plant species. Her research consists of both lab and field experiments. She is currently teaching an honors biology lab course focused on habitat fragmentation and the effect it has on duckweed and microbial growth (CURE BIOL 1503L). 

Xiyan Feng, Ph.D. Student

Xiyan's research primarily focuses on understanding the ecological dynamics between hosts and their microbiomes, and how these interactions shape ecosystem functions and biodiversity. She aims to elucidate the environmental factors that drive host-microbiome relationships and their implications for ecological communities.