Docherty Lab
microbial ecology
Current Lab Members
 Kathryn DochertyProfessor and lead PI, interested in soil microbial ecology, restoration ecology, climate change, and promoting DEI. Contact at kathryn dot docherty at wmich dot edu |  Ellen Badger HansonEllen is a PhD student who is interested in understanding how restoration strategies can be used to restore microbial communities and carbon storage in reclaimed agricultural systems. |
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 Angela Solis-SaratLab alumni and current NSF-supported Postbac Research. Her honors thesis focused on how restoration choices influence microbial extracellular enzyme activity. |  Garrett RingleGarrett is an incoming M.S. student in Fall 2024. |
 Haley MuellerHaley is an incoming M.S. student in Fall 2024, joining us from SVSU. |  Kiara CoxUndergraduate research assistant and L-SAMP fellow. Her research focuses on how restoration and land management influence soil inorganic nitrogen concentrations. |
 Maggie BryantLee Honors College undergraduate student. Her thesis examines how restoration seed mix choices influence POM/MAOM, POX-C and lipid biomass. |  TychoTycho is in charge of wood decomposition, making plans, and middle management. |
Lab Alumni
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Graduate Students
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Ellen Badger Hanson, M.S. (defended February 2023)
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Publication: Badger Hanson, E. M. and Docherty, K.M. (2023) Mini-review: Current and Future Perspectives on Microbially Focused Restoration Strategies in Tallgrass Prairies. Microbial Ecology. 85(3):1087-1097. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-022-02150-1
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Christian Smith, M.S. (defended January 2023)
Thesis: Urban Biotic Homogenization of Airborne Microbial Communities on a Continental Scale.
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Zach Whitacre, M.S. (defended May 2021)
Thesis: Effects of Traditional and Microbially-Focused Restoration Techniques on Soil Communities In Tallgrass Prairies.
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Allie Spring, M.S. (defended March 2019)
Thesis: Higher altitude airborne bacterial communities are similar to near-surface communities, but differ by underlying land-use.
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Publications:
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Spring, A.M., Domingue, K.D., Kerber, T.V., Mooney, M.M., Hale, R.L., Lemmer, K.M., Docherty, K.M. (2021) Land use effects on airborne bacterial communities are evident in both near-surface and higher-altitude air. Diversity 13(2): 85. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020085
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Spring, A.M., Docherty, K.M., Domingue, K.D., Kerber, T.V., Mooney, M.M., Lemmer, K.M. (2018) Air, Soil and Water Research. 11:1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/1178622118788871​
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Emily Sprague, M.S. (defended March 2018)
Thesis: Do changes in stratification, caused by the application of road salt deicers, impact the vertical profiles of lake microbial communities?
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Publication: Dupuis, D., Sprague, E.I., Docherty, K.M., Korestsky, C.M. (2019) The influence of road salt on seasonal mixing, redox stratification and methane concentrations in urban kettle lakes. Science of the Total Environment. 661: 514-521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.191
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Diana Carter, M.S. (defended July 2017)
Publication: Carter, D.L., Docherty, K.M., Gill, S.A., Baker, K., Teachout, J., Vonhof, M.J. (2018) Antibiotic resistant bacteria are widespread in songbirds across rural and urban environments. Science of the Total Environment.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.343
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Douglas Pearce, M.S. (defended Oct 2016)
Thesis: Physiology and Genetics Shape the Microbiome of a Seabird Species (Oceanodroma Leucorhoa) More than Environmental and Social Factors.
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Publication: Pearce, D.S., Hoover, B.A., Jennings, S., Nevitt, G.A., Docherty, K.M. (2017) Morphological and genetic factors shape the microbiome of a seabird species (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) more than environmental and social factors. Microbiome. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-017-0365-4
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Undergraduate Students
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Kiara Cox - L-SAMP, 2024
Maggie Bryant - 2023-2024, KBS REU
Kate Miles - 2024
Caroline Keller - 2023-2024
Angela Solis-Sarat - L-SAMP, LHC thesis, 2023-2024
Sam Schmidt - 2023
Sarah Flosky - 2023, NSF REU
Judith Tafur - 2023, KBS REU
Hanna Korn - 2022
Megan Nippa - LHC thesis, 2020-2021
Liberty Kostrzewa, 2021
Audriana Skonecki - summer 2020
Caroline Wolf - 2019-2020
Haley Ritsema, LHC thesis, 2019-2020
Jacob Evans, LHC thesis, 2018-2020
Ben Shotwell, 2019
Mitchell Patalon, 2019
Duncan McKenzie - summer 2019
Cody Benfant, LHC thesis - 2019
Dan Dunaske - 2017
Marco Luna - NSF REU, summer 2017
Andrew Cater - summer 2017​
Allie Spring, LHC thesis, 2015-2017
Noelle Gutowski, 2016
Vicki Kras, 2016
Mary-Claire Cotner, 2015
Jeremiah Chang, 2015-2016
Eric Conti, 2014
Robin Luo, 2013-2014
Jordan Teachout, LHC thesis, 2013-2014
Katie Walker, 2012-2016
Kristen Bergh, K College thesis, 2012-2013
Steven Aiello, LHC thesis, 2012-2013
Barbie Buehler, LHC thesis, 2012
Natalia Radzikowski, 2011-2012
Lisa Meints, 2011
Brian Lindberg, 2011