I am interested in studying microbial interactions at various scales and from different perspectives. My PhD research is about understanding the resistance and resilience of soil biota after climate extremes. More specifically, my research objects are three major soil biota groups: soil bacteria, soil fungi, and Collembola. I aim to investigate (1) how density and diversity affect their resistance and recovery after combined effects of extreme heat and extreme drought; (2) how biotic interactions among bacteria, fungi, and Collembola affect each other’s resistance and recovery and how dispersal play a role in these processes. I conduct experiments by using simplified model systems in the lab and extend these findings by examining real-world soil responses to extreme heat and drought. Through my projects, I hope to promote our understanding of how biotic interactions influence soil biodiversity in a changing world.
