Emily Whalen

Emily Whalen, NRESS Ph.D.

Research Topic

A trait-based framework for fungal contributions to persistent soil organic matter

Previous Awards and Activities

  • Dissertation Year Fellowship, University of New Hampshire, 2021
  • Natural Resources and Earth System Science Student Travel Award, 2021
  • Summer Teaching Assistant Fellowship, University of New Hampshire, 2019
  • Dickie Family Scholarship Fund Award, University of New Hampshire, 2018
  • Summer Teaching Assistant Fellowship, University of New Hampshire, 2018
  • Natural Resources and Earth System Science Student Support Award, 2018
  • Graduate School Travel Grant, University of New Hampshire, 2018
  • Best Student Poster Presentation, Northeastern Ecosystems Research Cooperative Meeting, 2017
  • Summer Teaching Assistant Fellowship, University of New Hampshire, 2016
  • Ruth E. Farrington Fund Travel Award, University of New Hampshire, 2016
  • Graduate School Travel Grant, University of New Hampshire, 2016

Peer-Reviewed Publications

  • Ernakovitch, J.G., R. Barbato, V.I. Rich, C. Schadel, R.E. Hewitt, S.J. Doherty, E.D. Whalen, et al. 2022. Microbiome assembly and its feedbacks to climate from thawing permafrost. Accepted in Global Change Biology.

  • Sokol, N.W., E.D. Whalen, A. Jilling, C. Kallenbach, J. Pett-Ridge, K. Georgiou. 2022. The global distribution, formation, and fate of mineral-associated soil organic matter under a changing climate— a trait-based perspective. Functional Ecology. In press.

  • Whalen, E.D., N. Lounsbury, K. Geyer, M. Anthony, E.W. Morrison, L.T.A. van Diepen, J. Le Moine, K. Nadelhoffer, L. vandenEnden, M.J. Simpson, and S.D. Frey. 2021. Root control of fungal communities and soil carbon stocks in a temperate forest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 161.

  • Fitch, A.A., A.K. Lang, E.D. Whalen, K. Geyer, and C. Hicks-Pries. 2020. Fungal community,not substrate quality, drives soil microbial function in northeastern U.S. temperate forests. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 3, 1-13.

  • Whalen, E.D., R.G. Smith, A.S. Grandy, and S.D. Frey. 2018. Manganese limitation as a mechanism for reduced decomposition in soils under atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 127, 252-263.

  • Heuck, C., G. Smolka, E.D. Whalen, S. Frey, P. Gunderson, F. Moldan, and M. Spohn. 2018. Effects of long-term nitrogen addition on phosphorus cycling in organic soil horizons of temperate forests. Biogeochemistry 141, 1-15.

Selected Presentations

  • Whalen, E.D., A. Stuart Grandy, Eric W. Morrison, Shana Whitney and Serita D. Frey. A trait-based framework for fungal contributions to soil organic matter. American Geophysical Union Meeting, New Orleans, LA. Contributed talk.

  • Whalen, E.D., N. Lounsbury, K. Geyer, L. vandenEnden, M. Simpson, K. Nadelhoffer, S.D. Frey. 2019. The root of the (soil organic) matter: fungi and SOM respond more strongly to root than leaf litter manipulations in a temperate forest DIRT experiment. Ecological                                   Society of America Meeting, Louisville, KY. Contributed talk.

  • Whalen, E.D. 2019. Unearthing the role of microbes in soil carbon storage. Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Matters Conference, Concord, NH. Invited talk.

  • Whalen, E.D. 2019. History of the Harvard Forest chronic nitrogen addition study: soils as a nitrogen and carbon sink. Harvard Forest Annual Symposium, Petersham, MA. Invited speaker and panelist.

  • Whalen, E.D., R.G. Smith, A.S. Grandy, S.D. Frey. 2018. Manganese limitation as a mechanism for reduced decomposition in soils under atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Long-Term Ecological Research All-Scientists’ Meeting, Pacific Grove, CA. Poster.

  • Whalen, E.D., R.G. Smith, A.S. Grandy, S.D. Frey. 2018. Manganese limitation as a mechanism for reduced decomposition in soils under atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Ecological Society of America Meeting, New Orleans, LA. Contributed talk.

  • Whalen, E.D. & S.D. Frey. 2017. Manganese limitation of litter-decay enzyme activity under long-term nitrogen deposition. Ecological Society of America Meeting, Portland, OR.  Poster.

  • Whalen, E.D. & S.D. Frey. 2017. Effect of manganese availability on decomposition under simulated nitrogen deposition. Northeastern Ecosystems Research Cooperative Meeting, Saratoga Springs, NY. Poster.

  • Whalen, E.D. & S.D. Frey. 2016. Effect of manganese limitation on decay capacity of saprotrophic fungi. MassMyco, Amherst, MA. Poster.

Education

  • Ph.D. Candidate, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New Hampshire
  • M.S., Natural Resources, University of New Hampshire, 2018
  • B.S., Environmental Science, University of Vermont, 2014

Professional Positions

  • Co-Instructor, Anti-racism in Science, University of New Hampshire, Spring 2022
  • Dissertation Year Fellow, University of New Hampshire, Fall 2021-Spring 2022
  • Instructor, Connect STEM mini-course, University of New Hampshire, Summer 2021
  • Co-Instructor, Anti-racism in Science, University of New Hampshire, Spring 2021
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Soil Microbial Ecology Lab, Fall 2019-Spring 2021
  • Instructor, Connect STEM mini-course, University of New Hampshire, Summer 2019
  • Teaching Assistant, Contemporary Conservation Issues and Environmental Awareness, Spring 2019
  • Teaching Assistant, Contemporary Conservation Issues and Environmental Awareness – Honor’s Section, Spring 2019
  • Teaching Assistant, Studio Soils, University of New Hampshire, Fall 2018
  • Instructor, Connect STEM mini-course, University of New Hampshire, Summer 2018
  • Teaching Assistant, Contemporary Conservation Issues and Environmental Awareness, Spring 2018
  • Teaching Assistant, Contemporary Conservation Issues and Environmental Awareness – Honor’s Section, Spring 2018
  • Teaching Assistant, Studio Soils, University of New Hampshire, Fall 2017
  • Co-Instructor, Connect STEM mini-course, University of New Hampshire, Summer 2017
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Soil Microbial Ecology Lab, University of New Hampshire, Fall 2016-Spring 2017
  • Teaching Assistant, Contemporary Conservation Issues and Environmental Awareness, University of New Hampshire, Spring 2016
  • Teaching Assistant, Studio Soils, University of New Hampshire, Fall 2015
  • Lab Manager/Research Technician, Terrestrial Biogeochemistry Lab, University of Vermont, 2014-2015
  • Research Technician, Northwest Extension Crops and Soils Lab, University of Vermont, 2014
  • Intern, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Colchester, VT, 2013-2014
  • Research Technician, Soil Chemistry Lab, University of Vermont, 2012-2013      

Leadership and Social Justice

  • President, Stonewall Grads (graduate student LGBTQIAP+ organization), University of New Hampshire, 2021-present
  • Graduate Student Representative, Departmental Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dept. of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, 2020-present
  • Member, Transgender Policy and Climate Committee (TPACC), University of New Hampshire, 2020-present
  • Graduate Student Officer, Stonewall Grads, University of New Hampshire, 2020-2021
  • Graduate Student Representative, University Commission on Community, Equity and Diversity, University of New Hampshire, 2019-present
  • Senator, Graduate Student Senate, University of New Hampshire, 2019-2021
  • Student Network Coordinator, Natural Resources and Earth System Science Ph.D. Program, University of New Hampshire, 2018-2020
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