Katie Ann Huy

I'm interested in understanding the roles of microbes in the environment -- how microbes interact with one another, their immediate surroundings, and ecosystem processes. During my undergrad at Whittier College, I studied Coffee-Mycorrhizae relationships and discovered the wonderful world of microbial organisms. After graduating, I went on to work as a research technician at Caltech, researching microbially mediated carbon-cycling in California soils and Arctic permafrost systems, and became fascinated with understanding how large-scale disturbances impact microbial processes vital to ecosystem function and biogeochemical cycling. During my time at Stanford, I aim to understand how microbes are impacted by metal stress as a result of wildfire and identify key mechanisms by which microbial communities facilitate post-fire ecosystem recovery. As a community college alumnus, I'm also excited about teaching and outreach efforts to develop pathways for underserved students to experience and be exposed to scientific research.