Ph.D., 2014 - University of California, Riverside
B.S., 2007 - North Carolina State University
Dr. Hale is a soil microbiologist specializing in agricultural soil health. Dr. Hale’s research evaluates short- and long-term outcomes of agricultural management practices such as organic production, cover crops, soil amendments, intercropping, and deficit irrigation on ecosystem services performed by soil microorganisms. To profile soil microbial communities, Dr. Hale’s lab employs metagenomic technologies to sequence microbial DNA and gas chromatography to detect lipid biomarkers extracted from soils. Systems-level assessments of agronomic trials typically include quantification of soil chemical and physical properties, soil moisture, crop yield and quality metrics, soil gas emissions, and plant water stress conducted by Dr. Hale’s research group or through collaboration. Statistical analyses including machine learning methods are used to relate microbial community metrics to soil and field data. The aims of these analyses are to provide mechanistic insights on how farm management shapes soil health and in turn the quality and resilience of our crops.
Organic Agriculture Institute and Extension:
Dr. Hale also brings together multidisciplinary researchers state-wide to address research needs and priorities of the organic agriculture industry. She regularly meets with stakeholders and works with the OAI team to host field days, disseminate research findings, and learn from grower experiences.
