Craig Rasmussen

Craig Rasmussen is a Professor at the University of Arizona, specializing in soil science and environmental biogeochemistry. He holds a dual PhD in Soils and Biogeochemistry and Soil Science from the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on pedogenesis, soil carbon cycling, mineral weathering, and soil-landscape evolution, with a particular emphasis on semi-arid environments and post-wildfire recovery. Rasmussen’s work integrates field observations, laboratory analyses, and computational modeling to address critical questions in soil science, critical zone evolution, and environmental restoration.

Key research interests include understanding how climate, parent material, and topography shape soil properties over timescales from decades to millennia, with applications to climate change impacts, mine reclamation, and invasive species dynamics. He has contributed to the development of high-resolution soil hydraulic property maps and open-source databases like SoDaH and ISRaD to advance interdisciplinary soil research. His teaching includes courses on environmental monitoring, soil genesis, and advanced soil science methodologies.

Rasmussen’s recent work explores the chemical ecology of invasive grasses, post-wildfire soil recovery, and the role of soil minerals in stabilizing organic carbon. He has also investigated the spatial distribution of Coccidioides (Valley Fever) in Arizona soils, linking soil properties to public health risks. His research bridges fundamental soil science with applied environmental challenges, emphasizing the critical zone’s role in sustaining ecosystems under global change.