April Maxwell
Master of Soil Science
Thesis / Dissertation – Effects of Simulated Drought and Heat Wave on Soil Microbial Diversity and Community Composition
Honors / Awards:
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, University Graduate Fellowship
Advisor: Dr. Josh Heitman
Graduate Committee: Dr. Josh Heitman, Dr. Shuijin Hu, and Dr. Rich McLaughlin
Research Summary
Soils from five different management systems were exposed to a two-week drought, heatwave, and a control, followed by a recovery period of two weeks. Microbial diversity did not differ by treatment (drought, heatwave, or control). On the other hand, microbial community composition differed by management system.
I plan to use my degree to:
Teach science to K-12 audiences in a non-classroom setting
What I enjoyed most about my experience in Crop and Soil Sciences at NC State was:
Successfully defending my master’s report
While earning my degree, my greatest supporters were:
Dr. Heitman and his lab group, Janel Ohletz, Abby Haselton, Selena Jackson, Jen Richmond-Bryant, my family, and a host of others who are too numerous to list 🙂
Now that I have completed the program, I’m most looking forward to:
Pursuing a career in informal STEM education
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-maxwell-42643772/
Messages for April Maxwell
I am so proud of you, for all that you have accomplished, and for being you! You are a force, and you have so much good ahead of you! Please know that I am always in your corner and here for you no matter what.
– Jen Richmond-Bryant
