The new school year has kicked off with great energy and enthusiasm for the Soil Ecology Working Group! Alongside our ongoing research initiatives, we are proud to celebrate the academic progression of three of our dedicated team members at the University of Tartu.
- Jaak Pärtel will continue his journey in our Master’s programme, delving deeper into the fascinating world of crohm fungi diversity and community ecology.
- Roland Lehemets is advancing to PhD studies, where he will explore the alignment between community dynamics and ecosystem processes through the lens of microbial niche characteristics.
- Sirle is also embarking on PhD studies, focusing on the biodiversity drivers of soil microarthropods – a critical area for understanding soil ecosystem health.
We are incredibly proud of their achievements and excited to see how their research will contribute to advancing soil ecological science!
To start the new academic year with enthusiasm, our team members participated in the Ökomess on September 11th, where they showcased the exciting research topics of the Soil Ecology working group. Visitors had the chance to explore the world of ecoacoustics, discover the fascinating life hidden in soil through a microscope, and learn how our field practices are conducted. We met many bright and curious students — and we hope to welcome them soon into our research group!