Laura van der Pol

Laura is a PhD student in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology and the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. Ever since studying ecology at the Semester in Environmental Sciences at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Laura has wanted to become an ecologist. Laura majored in environmental science at Wellesley College and, after some time on the high seas as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, worked as a research assistant studying terrestrial vegetation in the arctic of the Northern Slope of Alaska. Pursuing a passion for science and education, Laura taught high school science in Colorado Springs for several years before pursuing her graduate degree. Laura's graduate research is in agroecosystems exploring how diversifying crop rotations with legumes affects the soil microbial communities and soil organic matter formation. Laura hopes to pursue research that supports sustainable agriculture and biodiversity in multi-use landscapes.