Peter Kennedy

Peter Kennedy is a Professor in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Minnesota's College of Biological Sciences, where he serves as Interim Associate Dean of Research and holds the PMB Wardle Chair of Microbial Ecology. His Kennedy Lab investigates plant-microbe interactions, with a primary focus on ectomycorrhizal fungal symbioses in forest ecosystems.

The lab integrates mycology, microbiology, ecology, evolution, and molecular biology to study how biotic and abiotic factors shape ecological communities. Research employs field sampling, greenhouse experiments, and molecular techniques to examine fungal necromass decomposition, carbon sequestration mechanisms, and climate change impacts on microbial communities. Key areas include the 'Gadgil Effect' (fungal guild interactions controlling carbon cycling), protist roles in soil food webs, and biogeographic patterns of symbiotic versus saprotrophic fungi.

Recent publications reveal strong trends in fungal necromass decomposition dynamics under warming and nitrogen fertilization, with emphasis on melanin's role in carbon stabilization and microbial community shifts. Work increasingly connects molecular mechanisms (e.g., gene expression in Ascomycota) to ecosystem-scale carbon cycling.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Fulbright fellowship (2019) for Colombia-based biodiversity research
• PMB Wardle Chair of Microbial Ecology (2022), supporting new microbial ecology directions

Mentorship spans 14+ PhD students including Lotus Lofgren (UC Riverside), Craig See (Northern Arizona University), and Chris Fernandez (Syracuse University). Major grants include NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity (oak symbiont networks), Gadgil Effect studies, and SPRUCE experiment collaborations. International partnerships with Norway (University of Oslo), China (Xishuangbanna Institute), and Colombia (Universidad Nacional) drive cross-continental research.

The Kennedy Lab operates the Itasca ForestGEO plot and maintains strong ties with the Bell Museum fungal collections. Current initiatives include protist-fungal interaction studies, necromass RNASeq analyses, and expansion of FUNGuild—a community resource for fungal ecological guild classification.