Ecology

My broad research interests include population biology, predator-prey dynamics, conservation biology, evolutionary ecology, and behavioral ecology of large mammals.  I pursue these interests primarily through field research with large carnivores, large herbivores and the landscapes they occupy.  My general approach to research is to design and conduct field studies that will most directly test a priori hypotheses or generate novel insight using known individuals, direct observation, or non-invasive sampling but I also enjoy developing and testing theories based on modeling or meta-analyses of existing data.

With a strong focus on environmental microbiology, Jean has directed numerous research projects focused on establishing the human health and environmental risks of using reclaimed municipal wastewater for irrigation. She has also managed research studies examining potential climate change impacts on microbiological nutrient cycling in Southwestern soils.

Plant-microorganism interactions and feedbacks are important but cryptic components of how ecosystems function and respond to change. Microorganisms play a significant role in structuring plant communities through positive and negative interactions, and the diversity of soil microbiota controls the processes governing biogeochemical cycling in soils. As we consider the threat of species loss and how plant communities will continue to shift under rapidly altered temperature and precipitation regimes, understanding these feedbacks emerges as a critical focus for plant community ecology, ecosystem science, and conservation ecology. My research uses a combination of ecological experiments, microbiological techniques, and contemporary genetic tools to develop hypotheses to (1) test the effects of plant-microorganism interactions on plant community structure, (2) understand how environmental shifts will alter these interactions, in order to (3) make predictions about the subsequent impact on ecosystem function.

I received my Ph. D degree in Environmental Engineering with minor in Soil, Water and Environmental Science at The University of Arizona on December of 2008. From January 2009 to August 2011, I worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at The University of Arizona. Currently, I am appointed as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at The University of Arizona.
Over the past years, I have been actively involved in several multidisciplinary research programs at The University of Arizona, e.g. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-University of Arizona Superfund Basic Research program, SRC/SEMATECH Engineering Research Center for Environmentally Benign Semiconductor Manufacturing and NSF Water Quality Center, mainly focusing on environmental fate and treatment of contaminants, environmental toxicological impacts of emerging chemicals and nanomaterials in natural and engineered systems, and environmental biotechnology in water/wastewater treatment. The core of my researches is microorganism, which has the mystery abilities to clean and protect environmental sources. My research interests are driven the by the desire to understand the role of microbes in the interactions between environment and contaminants.