May 12, 2023 by Teamrat A Ghezzehei

Touyee Thao earned PhD

We are thrilled to share the exciting news of Dr. Touyee Thao’s successful completion of his PhD in Environmental Systems. His dissertation titled “Impact of Locally-Sourced Biochar Amendments on Soil Hydrology and Ecosystem Services: A Study of Moisture Retention, Plant Uptake Dynamics, Nutrient Retention, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agroecosystems” has made valuable contributions to soil science and agroecology. One of his dissertation chapters “Impact of biochar amendments on soil water and plant uptake dynamics under different cropping systems” is in-press in Vadose Zone Journal. A second manuscript is under review, while the third one will be submitted shortly.

After two weeks break, Dr. Thao will join the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) as a Research Soil Scientist. His initial work at ARS will focus on greenhouse gas fluxes in orchards subjected to whole-orchard recycling, which incorporates the biomass of old trees into the soil.

Join us in celebrating Touyee’s remarkable achievement as he prepares to embark on a new chapter of his career.