DeBruyn Laboratory

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Environmental and Soil Microbiology

Decomposition is one of the most important functions that microbes perform in our environment.  We seek to understand how microbial communities work to recycle both natural and xenobiotic inputs in terrestrial environments.  Understanding decomposition and biodegradation is key to developing better solutions for waste disposal, environmental bioremediation, and predicting ecosystem response to perturbations.

Current Projects

Bones in the ground

Decomposition of Vertebrates

There is (microbial) life after death. We are investigating the microbial processes of decomposition of carcasses and cadavers, to determine how nutrients are recycled in these ‘hot spot’ ecosystems.

Plants growing in a garden

Agricultural Plastics and Microplastics

Plastic pollution is a threat to healthy soils. Our lab is investigating the impacts of biodegradable and conventional microplastics on soil ecology. We’re also investigating the microbial mechanisms of plastic biodegradation.

Biodegradable Mulch – Project website

Two people working a research project

Soil Microbiomes

A healthy soil has abundant and diverse microbial life. We collaborate with other scientists to investigate how agricultural practices (e.g. reduced tillage, cover cropping, native forage grasses, genetically engineered crops) influence soil microbial communities and their functions. 


Contact

Dr. Jennifer DeBruyn
Professor of Environmental Microbiology
Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science
University of Tennessee
jdebruyn_at_utk.edu
865.974.7266