Dr. Rachelle Davenport is a soil scientist with extensive expertise in soil biogeochemistry and carbon cycling. She earned her Ph.D. in Soil and Crop Sciences from Cornell University, where she worked under the mentorship of Dr. Johannes Lehmann, focusing on soil organic matter decomposition and molecular diversity. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Plant and Soil Sciences from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she researched carbon cycling in dynamic redox wetland soils.

Dr. Davenport’s research experience ranges from highly nuanced changes in microbial and soil organic matter composition to how environmental conditions (such as long-term soil warming and oxygen status) affect soil carbon cycling. Dr. Davenport has authored several impactful peer-reviewed publications, including a study in PNAS exploring the effects of microbial-driven decomposition on soil organic matter diversity. Her research integrates advanced data analysis techniques, such as metabolomics (LC-MS/MS), metagenomics (16S rRNA sequencing), and synchrotron-based analyses, to investigate soil processes at the molecular level.

Since finishing her Ph.D., Dr. Davenport has been consulting in the agricultural sector to help growers build resilient soils using nature-based solutions. Through this experience, she has developed procedures to conduct on-farm experiments directly with growers to help foster adaptation of farming practices that support soil health and crop production.