We study the structure, organization, and interactions of living soils — the physics that makes soil habitable for organisms and ecosystems. Motivated by the demand to sustainably provide for a growing world population under a changing climate, our work connects fundamental soil physics with the biological and chemical processes that shape soil health.
Like the living soils we study, our lab thrives on a diversity of disciplines, perspectives, and paths into science.
What we do
Our research spans measurement, theory, and computation. In the lab and field we characterize how soil structure controls the movement of water, air, and solutes; in theory we develop models of aggregation, water retention, and biogeochemical response; and computationally we build physics-constrained machine learning that embeds physical laws into data-driven prediction.
Research areas
- Physics-informed machine learning — neural networks constrained by soil-physics principles.
- Water flow & hydraulic properties — unsaturated flow, infiltration, and evaporation.
- Soil structure, aggregation & carbon — pore networks and carbon stabilization.
- Rhizosphere & plant–soil interactions — roots reshaping their physical environment.
- Sustainable agriculture — conservation practices, cover crops, and biochar.
Principal Investigator
Teamrat A. Ghezzehei is a Professor of Environmental Soil Physics at the University of California, Merced. Read his CV, reach the lab at taghezzehei@ucmerced.edu, or explore our publications and people.