Jared DeForest

Jared DeForest is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Environmental and Plant Biology at Ohio University's College of Arts and Sciences. He is based in Porter Hall 419 and leads the Forest Soil Ecology Lab, focusing on soil-plant-microbe interactions and biogeochemical cycles. His work integrates soil science, microbial ecology, and forestry to understand ecosystem responses to environmental change.

• Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2004

Dr. DeForest's research centers on ecosystem ecology, particularly how soil microbes regulate carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling and influence tree productivity through mycorrhizal associations. His long-term projects examine how elevated soil pH and phosphorus affect microbial function and forest carbon sequestration in temperate hardwood forests. He employs interdisciplinary approaches from soil science, microbial ecology, and ecosystem modeling to uncover nutrient dynamics in forest soils. Key interests include ecoenzymatic stoichiometry, nutrient co-limitation, and microbial responses to soil amendments.

His recent publications reveal consistent focus on soil enzyme activity, microbial community responses, and tree-mycorrhizal interactions under changing nutrient regimes. Themes include phosphorus limitation, pH effects, nitrification dynamics, and continental-scale subsoil microbial activity. His work bridges field experiments with biochemical analysis, contributing to predictive models of ecosystem function under global change.

Dr. DeForest serves as Editor for Soil Biology & Biochemistry, reflecting his scholarly leadership. Though specific awards are not listed, his sustained publication in high-impact journals indicates recognition in the field.

He advises graduate students in ecology and environmental biology, though specific names are not provided. His lab, the Forest Soil Ecology Lab, develops optimized protocols for soil testing and investigates long-term nutrient dynamics. He teaches courses including Soils & Ecosystems, Dendrology, and Plant Physiology, contributing significantly to departmental education and service as Chair.