Lab Spotlight: 

If you are interested in how the natural world handles changes caused by human activities, my lab might be a good fit for you. Kearney Team research is rooted in Global Change Biology - essentially studying how organisms, communities, & ecosystems react when they face stresses from human disturbances.

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What do we actually study?

Kearney Team researchers look at how plants and soils respond (stay the same or change) to major human disturbances, such as:

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• Pollution: e.g., How do chemical changes affect plant growth, development, and reproduction?

• Invasive Species : e.g., What happens when "outsider" plants take over an area?

• Climate Shifts: e.g., How do changing temperatures affect how an ecosystem works (functions)? 

 

We primarily work with plants and soils in my lab because the two are closely connected. Since primary producers (like plants) form the base of every food chain, changes in their growth, development, and reproduction can strongly influence the health and stability of an ecosystem. 

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​How do we do it?

Students do exploratory studies and run experiments that can have lab- and field-based components. ​This may involve collecting plant and/or soil samples from natural ecosystems, running experiments to test how plants respond to human disturbances, and measuring soil properties and plant traits under different field and experimentally-induced conditions. ​

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Student Opportunities

Kearney Team students gain hands-on experience with ecological research, including designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating scientific results. 

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If you're interested in what we do and want to join the research team, feel free to contact me at:
Miranda.Kearney@oneonta.edu