معرفی
Kevin Garcia is an Associate Professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at North Carolina State University. His research laboratory focuses on deciphering the molecular basis of bi-directional nutrient fluxes between plant roots and soil microbes, with particular emphasis on arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal associations.
Dr. Garcia's research interests include:
- Mycorrhizal Symbioses
- Mycology
- Nutrient transport mechanisms
- Plant-Microbe interactions
- Soil microbiology
- Plant nutrition in changing environments
His laboratory explores molecular players participating in nutrient allocation using physiological, biochemical, molecular, genetic, and transcriptomic approaches. This research contributes to harnessing plant-microbe associations to improve nutrient use efficiency and tolerance to global environmental changes in agroecosystems. Dr. Garcia's publication record demonstrates expertise in potassium and phosphorus cycling in mycorrhizal systems, particularly in loblolly pine and soybean systems.
Dr. Garcia has received recognition for his work in mycorrhizal research, with publications in high-impact journals including Environmental Microbiology, Fungal Biology, and Progress in Botany.
He actively mentors students, having guided his first PhD student (Dr. Danielle Cooney-Benson) in building his research program at NC State. His laboratory also includes undergraduate researchers like Clancy Larmour who has worked in his lab for several years.
Dr. Garcia maintains an active presence in the scientific community through social media platforms like Bluesky and Twitter, where he shares updates about his research and the field of mycorrhizal symbiosis.
