We study how soil life shapes ecosystems and agriculture. The fungi we test
as biocontrol agents are a good example—soil-borne allies that suppress pests,
cut chemical use, and build resilient agroecosystems. By treating fungi as ecological
partners, not just pathogens, we open new paths for healthier food systems and restoration.
This work is part of a broader focus on soil ecology. Earthworms, insects, and microbes
all spend part or all of their lives underground, and their activity links directly to
what we see above. Using greenhouse trials, field experiments, insect bioassays, fungal
cultures, microbiome, and molecular tools, we connect these processes to reveal how soil
organisms drive nutrient cycling, plant health, and pest dynamics—underscoring the central
role of soils in sustaining life.
Working closely with our farmer partners allows us to test ideas not only in controlled experiments but also in real farming systems—making sure our science remains practical, and directly relevant to grower needs.
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OUR RESEARCH
Soil Ecology
Exploring how soil life—earthworms, insects, fungi, and microbes—shapes ecosystems and agriculture.
Read more →Biocontrol with Fungi
Evaluating fungi as natural biocontrol agents for resilient food systems and ecological restoration.
Read more →WORK WITH US
Read moreRecent Publications
Amynthas Intrinsic Clock
Annual Endogenous Cycle and Thermal Drivers of Cocoon Hatching in the Earthworm Amynthas tokioensis.
Swede Midge Susceptibility in Kale
On-farm evaluation of swede midge susceptibility among four popular kale varieties.
Apolocystis bosanqueti Parasite
Apolocystis bosanqueti n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinorida) from the invasive earthworm Amynthas agrestis (Annelida: Megascolecidae).
Media Coverage
A New Invasive Species? Here’s What You Need to Know About Jumping Worms.
UVM researchers talk worms and soil health on WCAX News.
Jumping worms hit the spotlight in this NYT feature on invasive species.
Field recording with Vermont Public: tracking worms on Outdoor Radio.
