People

Jennifer Blesh

Principal Investigator

Dr. Blesh is an Associate Professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan and part of the Sustainable Food Systems Initiative. Through her work she explores the potential for agroecological management to improve the sustainability of food production. She uses interdisciplinary and mixed-methods research approaches to measure and assess environmental, agronomic, and social outcomes of a diverse range of agri-food systems, drawing on theories and methods from disciplines such as agroecology, biogeochemistry, ecosystem ecology, soil science, rural sociology, and political ecology. Practicing interdisciplinarity, thinking systemically, and integrating multiple perspectives are all fundamental components of her scholarship.

Mohammad Ghorbani

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Mohammad currently is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), working in the Blesh Lab. As a soil scientist, his research focuses on sustainable agriculture, soil nutrient management, and environmental remediation, with particular attention to improving soil health and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through diversified fertilizer strategies. His PhD work centered on the use of biochar to enhance soil benefits and nutrient cycling, and involved multidisciplinary collaboration with European institutions such as BOKU University, the University of Helsinki, and Ghent University. In his current role, he contributes to a USDA-funded interdisciplinary project that addresses global challenges including nutrient losses, climate change, and soil degradation. This work investigates the ecological potential of recycled nitrogen sources and aims to strengthen nutrient circularity within agroecosystems to support resilient and sustainable food systems.

William Brinkerhoff

PhD Candidate

Will is an agroecologist interested in crop-livestock integration. Broadly, he is interested in how cover crop grazing can provide benefits to soil health, farm profitability, and local food systems by increasing the adoption of cover crops, reducing chemical inputs, and generating a supply of sustainable animal protein. Will studied Molecular and Environmental Biology and Food Systems at UC Berkeley, and for his honors research, he studied soil carbon fractions and microbial biomass on his family’s ranch in Dexter, MI. In addition to his fascination with agroecological research, Will has strong passions for working on farms and ranches, spending time in the woods, and building community around a dinner table.

Ana Gunther

PhD Student

As a PhD student in SEAS and budding soil scientist, Ana is passionate about the terrestrial carbon cycle. Specifically, she is interested in the management of agricultural soils for soil carbon storage and co-benefits to soil health. Ana developed an interdisciplinary perspective in her undergraduate degree at Bowdoin College, where she studied Earth and Oceanographic Science and Environmental Studies. Her interest in the carbon cycle stems from conducting research on relationships between vegetation cover and soil carbon in the Arctic. Ana is eager to explore Michigan through running, exploring local coffee shops, and traveling for field research.

Amelia Clark

MS Student

Amelia is a SEAS Master’s student in the Ecosystem Science & Management track, with a focus on soil ecology and chemical cycling processes. After receiving a BSE in chemical engineering, she spent several years working in local government in Parks & Recreation and became more interested in land use, sustainability, and ecology. At present, her research interests fall locally with a broad focus on soils, soil ecology, and sustainable resource management in agricultural contexts.

Fuyao (Eric) Yang

MS Student

Fuyao is a Master’s student in the SEAS ecosystem management track, dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture through soil carbon cycling research. He focuses on optimizing soil management to enhance carbon sequestration and improve soil health in agroecosystems. Fuyao developed an interdisciplinary foundation at UC Davis, majoring in environmental science with an emphasis on soil systems. His passion for carbon cycling grew through research on soil organic matter dynamics, exploring sustainable practices to increase carbon stocks, improve soil health, and support global food security. Outside the lab, Fuyao enjoys playing music, including drums and guitar.

Jeremy Goldberg

MS Student

Jeremy is a M.S. student at SEAS in the Ecosystem Science and Management track. While completing his B.S. in Chemistry at UCLA, Jeremy fostered a passion for sustainable waste management, circular economy, and nutrient cycling. He conducted research on bioremediation of polystyrene and chemical upcycling of polyethylene. This research explored ecologically sound mechanisms for functionalizing carbon-carbon bonds to enable the reintegration of plastic waste to the biosphere. Here at SEAS, his research is focused on the development and application of urine-derived fertilizer. He utilizes both laboratory and field analytic techniques to develop a holistic understanding of the flow of nutrients through this novel system.

Beth VanDusen

Lab Manager

Beth received a MS in Ecology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BS in Biology from Palm Beach Atlantic University. After spending a number of years fending off ghost crabs, sand fleas, sharks, and humidity while conducting research in coastal North Carolina, she returned to her home state of Michigan in 2015 to join the Blesh Lab team. Though her research background is rooted in coastal ecology, Beth maintains diverse interests and has long been fascinated by all-things-food, including local food production and the development of sustainable food systems.

Julie Sheldon

Research Technician

Julie is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Her experience with the university’s campus farm ignited her passion for local and sustainable food systems. This interest, coupled with her work on a small educational farm, has cultivated her deep commitment to both sustainable agricultural practices and youth farming education. Beyond work, Julie enjoys baking, reading, and taking excessive care of her houseplants.

Blesh Lab Alumni

Kent Connell

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2020-2024

Kent is currently a Data Analyst for the YMCA of Metro Chicago. During his postdoc, he focused on two projects: 1) a USDA AFRI grant to investigate the influence of management legacies on nitrogen and phosphorus retention in farms across varying climate and soil conditions, and 2) a CNAP grant to investigate how cover crop mixtures influence soil carbon storage in Michigan grain farms. He also used his time in the lab to hone his coding and data analysis skills which included participating in the Environmental Data Science Summer Academy.

Alison Nord

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2021-2023

During her postdoc, Ali worked on the perennial grain-legume intercrops project investigating the potential of intercropping alfalfa and clover legumes with intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) to improve the nutrient cycling, soil health, and production quality in perennial agricultural systems. She is now an Analytical Team Manager at the Climate Action Reserve.

Vivian Valencia

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2015-2017

As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan, Vivian collaborated on an interdisciplinary project investigating relationships between policy, agricultural practices, and social-ecological resilience of food systems for the family farming sector in Brazil. She is currently the Research Chair in Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action at Bishop’s University in Quebec.

Etienne Herrick

PhD, 2024

Current Position: Program Manager & Senior Research Consultant at the Center for Regenerative Agriculture, University of Missouri

Alison Bressler

PhD, 2022

Current position: Collaborative Research Specialist at the University of Michigan Water Center, Graham Sustainability Institute

Anne Elise Stratton

PhD, 2021

Current position: Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Sustainable Use of Natural Resources, Institute of Social Sciences in Agriculture, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany