Research

My research focuses on the processes by which soil structure and soil carbon form. Below are some motivating questions and current research projects.

1) What factors affect carbon storage down to 1 metre in long term farming systems?

2) How does the application of organic carbon (compost and cover crops) affect soil microbial communities (who is there, and what they do)?

CV | ResearchGate | Linkedin

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Student, Soils and Biogeochemistry Graduate Group, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA. Advisors: Kate Scow and Sanjai Parikh

M.Sc. Soils and Sustainability, Department of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. Advisor: Bryan Griffiths

B.A. Biology, Department of Biology, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota. Advisor: Mark McKone

A.S. Mathematics, Computer Science and Environmental Science, Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College, Dangriga, Belize

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

Rath, D; Brodt S, (2017) “Soil Biology and Carbon Cycling”, Talk presented at the 2017 Soil Health Workshop at Russell Ranch Sustainable Agricultural Facility, Agricultural Sustainability Institute, UC Davis, October 2017

Rath, D (2017) “What the Soil Can Teach Us”, Invited speaker at the biennial TEDx Belize Conference in Belmopan, Belize, September 2017

Rath, D; Scow, K.M. (2017) “Soil Microbes and Soil Aggregates”, Talk presented at the 2017 Soil Biology Workshop at Russell Ranch Sustainable Agricultural Facility, Agricultural Sustainability Institute, UC Davis, June 2017

Wang, D; Arenas, C.F.; Griffin, D.E.; Rath, D; Fogg, G.E; Scow, K.M. (2017) Application of Innovative Technologies for Estimating Water Use in Irrigated Row Crops for Water Resources Management and Planning. Poster Presentation at UC WATER Security and Sustainability Research Initiative Meeting, October 2017.

Rath, D; Griffiths, B (2015) “Comparison of Plant Growth in Barley Landraces and Cultivars in Response to Protist Grazing”, Poster presentation at Master of Science Dissertation Presentation, University of Edinburgh, UK, June 2015.

Rath, D; Wagenius, S (2009) “Aphid-Ant Interactions on Echinacea angustifolia host plants in isolated prairie fragments”, Poster presentation at Sigma Xi Math and Science Research Session, Carleton College, Minnesota, November 2009.

Rath, D; Pedtke, P (2008) “Quantifying Lion Predation: A model for determining economic loss of lion predation on Maasai livestock herds”, Presented at Biodiversity and Conservation in Africa Research Session, Carleton College, Minnesota, April 2008.

I also enjoy making cartoons to illustrate scientific concepts. A couple are listed below: