M.Sc. Graduate, McGill University
Supervisor: Dr. Cynthia Kallenbach
About Caitlyn Horsch
Caitlyn Horsch is from Minnesota and received her BA in biology and environmental science from the University of Minnesota Morris. After graduation, she explored working as a field and lab technician in forest and plant-soil ecology labs. She recently graduated from McGill University where she was co-supervised by Dr. Cynthia Kallenbach and her previous employer Dr. Pedro Antunes. Caitlyn’s research examined how different arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal life-history traits and community diversity impact soil carbon cycling and plant nutrition. She hopes this research could help to further explain AM fungi’s role in ecosystem soil carbon storage and better inform the use of mycorrhizal inoculates to improve crop health and increase soil carbon retention. Through the CREATE program, she had the opportunity to do an internship with Viresco Solutions where she wrote the suggested methods for an ecosystem health assessment, designed to monitor soil carbon retention. Caitlyn plans to continue working in conservation and sustainable practices. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, novels, and backcountry camping.