"I have been fortunate. I speak for the fragile soils of this planet." - Francis D Hole
Hi! I'm Hannah (she/her). I'm a
soil scientist.
I graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, where I competed on the UMN Soil Judging Team and studied soil microbal ecology in the lab of Dr. Linda Kinkel. I completed a Master of Science in soil science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023, where I studied soil microbial communities in organic vegetable production under the mentorship of Dr. Zac Freedman. I am currently continuing my education in the Freedman Lab as a PhD student studying microbially-mediated carbon processes in highly disturbed soils. I am passionate about sustainable land use and the huge potential for agriculture to make the world a better place. I am interested in the integration of classical and contemporary soil science to improve the characterization and modeling of soils throughout time and space, particularly agricultural and anthropogenically-altered soils. Outisde of science, I like to read, write, bake and explore the outdoors. I am trained in traditional Irish music and have competed at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann twice, in Sligo and Ennis. I am currently teaching myself to speak Irish (Gaeilge).
and reach out to me
Learn more about my research
Why Soil Science?
Soils are a precious and vulnerable earth resource. They are dynamic, three dimensional bodies that support all terrestrial life and exist at the intersection of every sphere of planet Earth- the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Soils are connectors, storytellers and life-givers. Agriculture is a dominant avenue by which humans interact with and depend on soil, thus these soils play a unique role in shaping community and our relationship to the land. Through the consumption of food and other crops grown in soil, we accept that soils are apart of our very being. In the words of late soil scientist Francis D Hole, we are all but "TNS- temporarily not soil". As a soil scientist, I wear my identity with the utmost pride, and dedicate my career to advocating for the soils and communities of my home.