Vidya Suseela
Principal Investigator
My research focusses on the intricacies of below-ground ecosystems where plant roots and microbes constantly respond and adapt to their ever-changing soil environments. Before joining Clemson University as an assistant professor in 2017, I did my NSF Post-doctoral Research Fellowship with Dr. Apparao Rao at Clemson University and Ph.D. with Dr. Jeffrey S. Dukes at Purdue University.
Contact: vsuseel[a]clemson.edu; Google Scholar; Research Gate.
Principal Investigator
My research focusses on the intricacies of below-ground ecosystems where plant roots and microbes constantly respond and adapt to their ever-changing soil environments. Before joining Clemson University as an assistant professor in 2017, I did my NSF Post-doctoral Research Fellowship with Dr. Apparao Rao at Clemson University and Ph.D. with Dr. Jeffrey S. Dukes at Purdue University.
Contact: vsuseel[a]clemson.edu; Google Scholar; Research Gate.
Current Lab Members
Mengxue Xia
Post-doctoral Researcher (2018-present; Co-advised with Nishanth Tharayil)
Ph.D. University of Idaho.
I have a broad interest on root functions and plant-soil interactions. My earlier work investigated the functional modularity within tree root architecture systems, as an attempt to define functionally homogenous pools within root systems. I also investigated how anthropogenic nitrogen deposition may affect forest ecosystem processes. My current work focuses on characterizing root chemical adaptive responses to biotic/abiotic factors and how these responses may have a consequence on larger scales. Google Scholar.
Post-doctoral Researcher (2018-present; Co-advised with Nishanth Tharayil)
Ph.D. University of Idaho.
I have a broad interest on root functions and plant-soil interactions. My earlier work investigated the functional modularity within tree root architecture systems, as an attempt to define functionally homogenous pools within root systems. I also investigated how anthropogenic nitrogen deposition may affect forest ecosystem processes. My current work focuses on characterizing root chemical adaptive responses to biotic/abiotic factors and how these responses may have a consequence on larger scales. Google Scholar.
Ajay Singh
Post-doctoral Researcher (2024-present)
Ph.D. Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur, India).
Research focuses on greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration in agroecosystems. Google Scholar
Post-doctoral Researcher (2024-present)
Ph.D. Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur, India).
Research focuses on greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration in agroecosystems. Google Scholar
Jasmine Gill
Ph.D. Candidate (2019-Present)
BS in Agriculture (Punjab Agricultural University, India).
I am intrigued by the plant-mycorrhizal association and their effect on phosphorus acquisition in plants. My dissertation research will explore the chemical communication between roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in mediating phosphorus uptake in Sorghum genotypes.
Ph.D. Candidate (2019-Present)
BS in Agriculture (Punjab Agricultural University, India).
I am intrigued by the plant-mycorrhizal association and their effect on phosphorus acquisition in plants. My dissertation research will explore the chemical communication between roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in mediating phosphorus uptake in Sorghum genotypes.
Sifat Sultana
Ph.D. Candidate (2019-Present)
MS in Agronomy (New Mexico State University).
I am interested in how cover crop diversity enhances soil microbial health, reduces nutrient loss and contributes to carbon storage in the ecosystem. For my dissertation, I will explore the effects of cover crop diversification on cash crop yield particularly focusing on the belowground inputs.
Ph.D. Candidate (2019-Present)
MS in Agronomy (New Mexico State University).
I am interested in how cover crop diversity enhances soil microbial health, reduces nutrient loss and contributes to carbon storage in the ecosystem. For my dissertation, I will explore the effects of cover crop diversification on cash crop yield particularly focusing on the belowground inputs.
Chahat Garg
Ph.D. Student (2022-present)
BS in Agriculture (Punjab Agricultural University, India).
I am interested in plant-mycorrhizal interactions, and applications in agriculture.
Ph.D. Student (2022-present)
BS in Agriculture (Punjab Agricultural University, India).
I am interested in plant-mycorrhizal interactions, and applications in agriculture.
Mohit Goyal
Ph.D. Student (2022-present)
BS in Agriculture & MS in Agronomy (Punjab Agricultural University, India)
My research focuses on harnessing soil microbiome for drought tolerance in crops.
Ph.D. Student (2022-present)
BS in Agriculture & MS in Agronomy (Punjab Agricultural University, India)
My research focuses on harnessing soil microbiome for drought tolerance in crops.
Prabhsimran Singh
Ph.D. Student (2024-present)
BS in Agriculture & MS in Soil Science (Punjab Agricultural University, India)
Research focuses on the effect of different management practices on soil carbon sequestration in agroecosystems.
Ph.D. Student (2024-present)
BS in Agriculture & MS in Soil Science (Punjab Agricultural University, India)
Research focuses on the effect of different management practices on soil carbon sequestration in agroecosystems.
Morena Rolando
Visiting Ph.D. Student (2024)
University of Turin, Italy
Advisor: Dr. Luisella Celi
Research: Water and nutrient limitation on plant invasion in temperate forest ecosystems.
Visiting Ph.D. Student (2024)
University of Turin, Italy
Advisor: Dr. Luisella Celi
Research: Water and nutrient limitation on plant invasion in temperate forest ecosystems.
Lab Alumni
Ziliang Zhang
Post-doctoral Researcher (2018-2021)
Publications: Zhang Z, Suseela V 2021. Nitrogen availability modulates the impacts of plant invasion on the chemical composition of soil organic carbon. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 156, doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2021.108195.
Zhang Z, Bhowmik P, Suseela V. 2020. Effect of soil carbon amendments in reversing the legacy effect of plant invasion. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58: 181-191.
Current: Assistant Professor, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China.
Post-doctoral Researcher (2018-2021)
Publications: Zhang Z, Suseela V 2021. Nitrogen availability modulates the impacts of plant invasion on the chemical composition of soil organic carbon. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 156, doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2021.108195.
Zhang Z, Bhowmik P, Suseela V. 2020. Effect of soil carbon amendments in reversing the legacy effect of plant invasion. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58: 181-191.
Current: Assistant Professor, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China.
Kyungjin Min
Post-doctoral Researcher (2018-2019)
Publication: Min K J and Suseela V. 2020. Plant invasion alters the Michaelis-Menten kinetics of microbial extracellular enzymes and soil organic matter chemistry along soil depth. Biogeochemistry, 150, 181–196.
Current: Assistant Professor, Seoul National University, South Korea.
Post-doctoral Researcher (2018-2019)
Publication: Min K J and Suseela V. 2020. Plant invasion alters the Michaelis-Menten kinetics of microbial extracellular enzymes and soil organic matter chemistry along soil depth. Biogeochemistry, 150, 181–196.
Current: Assistant Professor, Seoul National University, South Korea.
Sukhmanpreet Kaur (MS student: 2018-2020)
Thesis: Elucidating the factors that regulate the specificity in outcome of plant-mycorrhizal association in phosphorus-limited soils.
Publications: Kaur S and Suseela V. 2020. Unraveling Arbuscular Mycorrhiza-Induced Changes in Plant Primary and Secondary Metabolites. Metabolites, 10: 8 (Invited review).
Kaur S, Campbell BJ, Suseela V. Root metabolome of plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis mirrors the mutualistic or parasitic mycorrhizal phenotype. New Phytologist.
Current: Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech (Translational Plant Science Program)
Thesis: Elucidating the factors that regulate the specificity in outcome of plant-mycorrhizal association in phosphorus-limited soils.
Publications: Kaur S and Suseela V. 2020. Unraveling Arbuscular Mycorrhiza-Induced Changes in Plant Primary and Secondary Metabolites. Metabolites, 10: 8 (Invited review).
Kaur S, Campbell BJ, Suseela V. Root metabolome of plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis mirrors the mutualistic or parasitic mycorrhizal phenotype. New Phytologist.
Current: Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech (Translational Plant Science Program)
Courtney Tharp
Undergraduate researcher (2021-2022)
I am interested in plant-microbe interactions that has broad applications in sustainable agriculture.
Independent project: AMF mediated changes in root characteristics and uptake of phosphorus in Sorghum accessions. Funding: CAFLS Undergraduate Research Initiative award.
Achievements
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2022); CAFLS Outstanding senior award
Current: Ph.D. student at Penn State (Fall 2022)
Undergraduate researcher (2021-2022)
I am interested in plant-microbe interactions that has broad applications in sustainable agriculture.
Independent project: AMF mediated changes in root characteristics and uptake of phosphorus in Sorghum accessions. Funding: CAFLS Undergraduate Research Initiative award.
Achievements
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2022); CAFLS Outstanding senior award
Current: Ph.D. student at Penn State (Fall 2022)
Jameson Bodenheimer
Calhoun Honors College undergraduate student (2018-2020)
Independent project on evaluating the chemistry of decomposing litter using FTIR spectroscopy. This project resulted in the ESA oral presentation: Bodenheimer J, Scott G,
Dukes JS, Suseela V. 2019. Climatic stress-induced changes in plant chemistry alter the compound- specific degradation of litter during decomposition. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Louisville, Kentucky.
Current: Teacher, Georgetown High School, Texas.
Calhoun Honors College undergraduate student (2018-2020)
Independent project on evaluating the chemistry of decomposing litter using FTIR spectroscopy. This project resulted in the ESA oral presentation: Bodenheimer J, Scott G,
Dukes JS, Suseela V. 2019. Climatic stress-induced changes in plant chemistry alter the compound- specific degradation of litter during decomposition. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Louisville, Kentucky.
Current: Teacher, Georgetown High School, Texas.
Lab group cheering Sukhman on her successful thesis defense!
(March 2020)