Alain Plante

Professor Alain Plante holds a faculty position at the University of Pennsylvania within the Department of Earth & Environmental Science under the College of Liberal and Professional Studies. Since joining in 2007, he has served as the Undergraduate Chair and Faculty Director of the University Scholars program at the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF).

• BSc in Environmental Engineering (University of Guelph)
• MSc in Soil Science (University of Guelph)
• PhD in Soil Science (University of Alberta)

His research focuses on soil organic matter cycling and global carbon dynamics, using integrative biological, chemical, and physical methods. He investigates carbon stabilization mechanisms across diverse environments including Mongolia, Puerto Rico, Iceland, and the Susquehanna River Basin. Key themes include:

• Organo-mineral associations
• Microbial carbon processing
• Climate change mitigation through soil management
• Urban soil sustainability
• Agroforestry carbon balance

Recent publications highlight applications of thermal analysis, machine learning, and isotopic databases to understand soil carbon persistence. His work spans field measurements in tropical forests, coal mine soils, and fjord systems.

Scientific recognition includes the Francis E. Clark Distinguished Lectureship (2019). He teaches foundational courses in environmental science, soil science, biogeochemistry, and sustainability, with international field seminars in Iceland.