I am a botanist and microbiologist deeply interested in the study of the below ground interactions between plants and their associated microbial communities. My field of research includes the study of the co-evolution between mycorrhizal fungus and seed plants, the mechanisms driving the variation in functional root traits and the impacts of different root strategies on ecological processes like soil carbon accrual and species coexistence. I work in multiple ecosystems, with an especial emphasis in tropical forests. I also use botanical garden collections to address ecological questions. I have ample experience teaching classes to a wide diversity of target groups ranging from elementary and middle schools to graduate student dissertations and abroad studies. My ultimate goal is to incorporate the below ground component as a central topic of discussion, consolidating root ecology as a standalone field in ecology.