Research Staff

Mauricio Avila-Segura

Honorary Associate Fellow | mavila@wisc.edu

Research on nutrient recovery and upcycling technologies associated with the Barak Lab and Nutrient Recovery and Upcycling LLC. Also work as a Tropical Soils Consultant in Central and South America and has extensive experience on methods of soil analysis, soil fertility and crop nutrition. And, last but not least, year-round outdoors enthusiast.

Nick Bero

Research Specialist | njbero@wisc.edu | 608.263.4529

Nick’s work is divided between Drs. Soldat and Arriaga research programs. He assists with field, greenhouse, and laboratory experiments in Dr. Soldat’s lab in pursuit of optimizing resource inputs in turfgrass systems and understanding and improving urban soils. For Dr. Arriaga’s lab, Nick establishes and performs research that addresses forage and grain production management systems to improve productivity and soil health while reducing impacts to water quality.

Tim Berry

Scientist II | tdberry@wisc.edu | 608.264.4850

I am a Scientist in the Whitman lab who recently completed my PhD at Purdue University, where I worked with the Filley group in the Purdue Stable Isotope lab. After receiving my undergraduate degree in Microbiology at Michigan State University, I became interested in stable isotope and soil science while studying the impacts of surface chemistry on the degradation of carbon nanomaterials in soils. In my free time I enjoy hiking, reading, and tinkering with machines.

Daniel Bidikov

Software Engr/Developer II | bidikov@wisc.edu

Hava Blair

Researcher III | hkblair@wisc.edu | 608.265.9354

Hava is a researcher with the SnapPlus (https://snapplus.wisc.edu/) team. She received her Ph.D. in Land and Atmospheric Science from the University of Minnesota. In addition to her interests in agricultural soil and water conservation, Hava is interested in open science, research synthesis methods, and tools for reproducible research.

Tom Bodden

Research Specialist | tbodden@wisc.edu

Thomas has an MS in Geology from Michigan Technological University. Currently he is working with the Ruark Lab to oversee field and lab processes involving plant and soil health, with a focus on nitrogen fertilizer management. In his free time, he enjoys art, music, collecting rocks and minerals, and exploring/hiking in nature.

Laura Ward Good

Scientist III | lwgood@wisc.edu | 608.262.9894

Laura leads the development of the nutrient management planning software, SnapPlus. Her research focuses on agricultural runoff phosphorus loss risk assessment.

John Jones

Researcher III | jjones58@wisc.edu

Annalise Keaton

Research Specialist | akeaton@wisc.edu

Annalise is a graduate from UW-Stevens Point where she focused her studies on Botany and Conservation Biology. Having lived in Wisconsin her whole life, she is passionate about conserving its beautiful ecosystems. She enjoys spending her time out in nature, in her garden or in local pottery studios.

Kyle Kettner

Researcher I | kdkettner@wisc.edu

Kelsey Kruger

Research Specialist | kmkruger2@wisc.edu

Kelsey is a Research Specialist for the Whitman Lab. She received her MS in Agroecology from UW-Madison and her BS in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems from UC Davis. She is interested in carbon cycling and ecosystem services. In her free time, she enjoys birding, gardening, and cooking.