Jennifer Blesh

Jennifer Blesh is an Associate Professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on agroecology, sustainable food systems, and soil biogeochemistry. She holds a Ph.D. in Soil and Crop Sciences from Cornell University and has held postdoctoral fellowships at the Federal University of Mato Grosso and Cornell University.

Her work integrates ecological and social science approaches to study how agrifood systems impact environmental quality and social justice. Current projects include assessing land reform in Brazil’s Cerrado and improving nitrogen retention in U.S. farm fields. She emphasizes alternative production-consumption relations to build equitable and ecologically sustainable food systems.

Dr. Blesh has led numerous grants, including USDA NIFA projects on nutrient management and soil health. She teaches courses such as 'Foundations of Sustainable Food Systems' and 'Agroecosystem Management.' Her accolades include an NSF International Research Fellowship and the Annie’s Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship.

Her lab collaborates with farmers and institutions to translate research into practice, with a focus on cover crops, soil health, and climate resilience. She has advised over 30 graduate students and published extensively in journals like Science, Ecological Applications, and Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.