Kathleen Lohse

Kathleen Lohse is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences with a joint appointment in the Department of Geosciences at Idaho State University since 2019. She leads the Soil and Aqueous Biogeochemistry Research (SABR) Laboratory, focusing on interdisciplinary studies at the intersection of ecology, hydrology, and earth system science. Her research addresses anthropogenic impacts on watershed ecosystems and integrates social processes into environmental management frameworks.

Dr. Lohse's research spans biogeochemical processes in dryland ecosystems, with particular emphasis on soil-water interactions, carbon cycling, and wildfire effects. Her work leverages field experiments, GIS modeling, and long-term observatory data from the Reynolds Creek Critical Zone Observatory. Key areas include groundwater dynamics, microbial community responses to disturbances, and sustainable management of socio-ecological systems.

Her recent publications highlight advancements in understanding groundwater-dominated streamflow, microbial stabilization of soil carbon, and climate-wildfire-ecosystem interactions. Notable projects include the AIMS team science initiative for intermittent stream microbiome analysis and refined carbon flux models for dryland conservation. Dr. Lohse's methodological innovations span soil depth measurements, isotopic tracers, and critical zone geophysics.