Chelsea Duball
Plants, Soils & Climate
Assistant Professor, Environmental Soil Science
Educational Background
Biography
I am an environmental soil scientist with focused expertise in Pedology, Soil Biogeochemistry, Wetlands, and Science Communication.
Teaching Interests
My teaching efforts focus on a wide range of soil science, environmental management, and science communication courses. I emphasize the use of active and hands-on learning strategies to help k-Ph.D.-level students expand their knowledge and skillsets, particularly related to soil science. The courses I teach at USU include: Fundamentals of Soil Science, Soil Judging, and Urban Soils and Reclamation.
Research Interests
My expertise lies at the intersection of soil biogeochemistry, wetland ecosystem science, and pedology. My current and future research broadly focuses on investigating soil-landscape processes and properties to assess the impacts of disturbance on fragile ecosystems (e.g., wetlands) and the services they provide, towards improving natural resources management. To do so, I examine how biogeochemical processes influence specific soil parameters, ranging across soil-pore to landscape scales, in a variety of ecosystem types. My research interests place a particular focus on: (i) understanding the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on soil health; (ii) assessing wetland form and function to improve wetland identification and conservation; and (iii) studying how freeze-thaw cycles impact biogeochemical processes and cycling in permafrost-affected soils and landscapes.