Sharon Alene Billings

Sharon Alene Billings is a Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Programs at the University of Kansas, affiliated with the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Her research focuses on terrestrial biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and water, particularly how these processes are influenced by climate change, vegetation shifts, and anthropogenic disturbances.

• Research expertise spans ecosystem ecology, microbial ecology, and stable isotope analysis
• Investigates cross-scale processes from microbial interactions to continental-scale patterns
• Employs isotopic signatures to trace biogeochemical mechanisms

Recent publications highlight her work on:

• Soil carbon stabilization mechanisms in montane forests
• Woody encroachment impacts on hydrological function
• Modeling discrepancies in soil moisture predictions
• Critical Zone connectivity and multidimensional resilience
• Plant functional diversity effects on carbon fluxes

Her research integrates ecosystem ecology, microbial processes, and climate change impacts across diverse terrestrial environments.