I am an Assistant Professor of Microbial Ecology in the School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University. My research is focused on the ecology and evolution of plant-microbial interactions, particularly within the context of environmental change (e.g. disturbance, invasions, climate). By integrating high throughput sequencing with manipulative field and greenhouse experiments, my lab is currently 1) evaluating the role of plant-soil feedbacks in improving, maintaining, or limiting plant community diversity in disturbed ecosystems; 2) testing the efficacy of soil microbial transplants to facilitate the establishment of native plants in invaded ecosystems; 3) investigating specificity in plant-mycorrhizal fungal relationships; and 4) evaluating the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving plant growth and nutrition in agroecosystems.
We welcome motivated undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs to join our team on the Tri-Cities campus. If you’re interested in pursuing research in soil microbial ecology, plant-mycorrhizal interactions, microbiomes, sustainable agriculture, and/or restoration ecology, please email tanya.cheeke@wsu.edu
Tanya E. Cheeke 