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Principal Investigator: Debankur Sanyal, PhD

A soil biogeochemist by training, I lead a statewide Soil Health Research and Extension program seeking sustainable ways to improve soil health and agricultural production in arid and semi-arid environments. My interest lies in finding practical, applied solutions for commercial growers and ranchers and making an impact in the 'real' world where science and technology can be adopted effectively. Therefore, my research often uses existing technologies but is geared towards increasing adoption by the industry. Communicating science is my passion, and I love to speak about soils, soil health, and food production as general. Outside work, I love to cook and play cricket and badminton. I am a big-time sports fan and spend my weekends watching mainly soccer, tennis, football, chess, and cricket.

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Chaz (Charles) Stackpole, Research Technician II

Charles "Chaz" Stackpole is a research technician at the Sanyal Soil Health Lab with a B.S. in Environmental Science from NAU. His research interests include the role of cover cropping and deficit irrigation in maximizing water use efficiency, the long-term effects of novel soil amendments such as biochar, and the diversity and function of the soil microbial community in urban agricultural soils. He hopes to pursue a M.S. in Environmental Science from UofA in Spring 2025. When not in the lab, he enjoys cooking, and spending time with his cat.

Taylor Arp, PhD Graduate Research Assistant

Taylor is a soil scientist investigating the soil microbiome and biological soil health indicators under different agronomic management practices in the desert Southwest. With a passion for research and science communication, he loves to speak in front of a diverse audiences, ranging from students to researchers to industry stakeholders.

Matt Halldorson, PhD Graduate Student

I am a PhD student in the Sanyal Soil Health lab, researching . When not taking long walks through the public lands of Arizona and spending time with his family, Matt enjoys working as a programmatic area viticulture agent for the U of A.

Emily Rockey, MS Graduate Student

Emily is a Master's student in Environmental Science and a Graduate Research Assistant. She obtained her B.S. in Plant Sciences from UA, and pursued work on organic farms, public gardens, and with compost production. Emily is interested in studying agroecology and indigenous agriculture. Her hobbies include international travel, seed saving, and fermented foods.