Project Leadership Team
Researchers and engineers at the University of Idaho bringing together expertise in soil ecology, data science, and research infrastructure.
Dr. Michael S. Strickland
Dr. Strickland is a Professor in the Department of Soil and Water Systems at the University of Idaho. His research focuses on the interface between soil, microbial, and ecosystem ecology, aiming to understand how soil microbial communities influence ecosystem processes. He is the current Principal Investigator for the NSF Mid-scale Infrastructure Deep Soil Ecotron project at the University of Idaho. He earned his Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Georgia in 2009 and a B.A. in Biology from William Jewell College in 2005.
As FAIROS project PI, Dr. Strickland will guide strategic planning, ensure adherence to timelines and budgets, and maintain effective coordination among partner institutions.
Dr. Luke Sheneman
Dr. Sheneman is the Director of Research Computing and Data Services (RCDS) at the University of Idaho. He obtained his Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from the University of Idaho in 2008. In his current role, Dr. Sheneman provides critical support for faculty, staff, and students engaged in interdisciplinary research projects, particularly those requiring advanced computational resources, data management, or artificial intelligence.
Within CO-FAIR, Dr. Sheneman will be responsible for the development and implementation of the FAIROS infrastructure, including databases, web applications, APIs, and deployment systems.
Dr. Zachary E. Kayler
Dr. Kayler serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Soil and Water Systems at the University of Idaho. His research centers on ecosystem biogeochemical cycles within natural and managed ecosystems, with an emphasis on sustainability, resilience, diversity, and adaptation. He currently serves as a Co-Principal Investigator for the University of Idaho's Deep Soil Ecotron project. He holds a Ph.D. from Oregon State University and both an M.S. and B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Kayler brings deep domain expertise in ecotron research and will guide the scientific requirements of the CO-FAIR data infrastructure.
Benjamin Harlow
Mr. Harlow is the Senior Technical Engineer at the Deep Soil Ecotron within the Department of Soil and Water Systems at the University of Idaho. He is particularly interested in the capacity for real-time experimental manipulation at levels unprecedented in soil science and ecology. Mr. Harlow plays a crucial role in the operation and integration of the Deep Soil Ecotron to meet diverse research needs.
In CO-FAIR, Mr. Harlow will provide important technical perspective and support to ensure data integration between the Deep Soil Ecotron data management system (atvise SCADA) and the proposed FAIROS system.
Additional Positions
Postdoctoral Researcher
A postdoctoral researcher will be recruited under the mentorship of Dr. Strickland or Dr. Kayler to contribute to the project's research objectives.
External Advisory Board
Leading experts in soil science, data management, ecotron research, and FAIR principles will provide strategic oversight and guidance.