Isabelle is a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering, advised by Prof. Rohit Karnik. She earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Oklahoma and has previously been awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. She is interested in sustainability policy and loves photography, hiking, and learning new crafts.
Research Description: Soil is fundamental to life on Earth, but the way it works is still largely a mystery because of the difficulty of observing soil processes over space and time. Isabelle is developing sensing technologies with the aim of opening a new “window” into this complex habitat and revealing how it functions on the scale of soil microorganisms. Her approach integrates interviews with soil experts, device design, and microscale transport engineering. Mechanistic insights on tiny scales can lead to practical improvements in modeling and land management, advancing soil sustainability along the dimensions of climate change, food security, and biodiversity.