Research
Nutrient cycling is the common thread that ties together our different research interests. We quantify the forms, biogeochemical transformations, and fluxes of essential nutrients for life on Earth, aiming to: (1) clarify important processes that underpin ecosystem function, (2) identify opportunities for beneficial intervention, and (3) engineer systems that achieve nutrient management objectives to support water quality goals and food system sustainability. We couple studies in the lab and field to explore the properties and responses of soils, sediments, plants, water, and residuals (organic & industrial) in engineered, urban, and agricultural ecosystems. To scale our nutrient dynamics work to the landscape, we use material flow analysis, modeling, and GIS. We also use life cycle assessment (LCA) to inform sustainability analysis.
Our work covers three important themes in nutrient stewardship: nutrient use efficiency in food systems, resource recovery and reuse, and nature-based solutions/green infrastructure.
Nutrient cycling is linked with carbon cycling. Our team is increasingly focused on the interactions between N, P, and C in restored ecosystems, circular bioeconomy systems, and environmental technologies. Soils, emerging contaminants (microplastics, PFAS), and LCA are a key areas of focus in this work.
Collaboration across disciplinary boundaries to explore questions at the human-environment interface is routine in our work. Thus far, Dr. Roy has worked successfully with landscape architects, agronomists, economists, sociologists, food systems scientists, geographers, remote sensing experts, chemists, hydrologists, engineers, and ecologists. Read a lead author publication focused on interdisciplinary collaboration here. Dr. Roy also routinely engages with the private sector, non-profits, and government agencies.
Past and present research locations include the Mississippi River delta, the agricultural frontier in the Brazilian Amazon & Cerrado regions, Sri Lanka, and Vermont.
Funding for our research has come from USDA NRCS, Lake Champlain Basin Program, The Nature Conservancy of Vermont, Casella Waste Systems Inc., Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, US EPA, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, NOAA, Vermont Agency of Transportation, Gund Institute for Environment, Newtrient LLC, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, Vermont Office of the Governor, and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research.
Our work covers three important themes in nutrient stewardship: nutrient use efficiency in food systems, resource recovery and reuse, and nature-based solutions/green infrastructure.
Nutrient cycling is linked with carbon cycling. Our team is increasingly focused on the interactions between N, P, and C in restored ecosystems, circular bioeconomy systems, and environmental technologies. Soils, emerging contaminants (microplastics, PFAS), and LCA are a key areas of focus in this work.
Collaboration across disciplinary boundaries to explore questions at the human-environment interface is routine in our work. Thus far, Dr. Roy has worked successfully with landscape architects, agronomists, economists, sociologists, food systems scientists, geographers, remote sensing experts, chemists, hydrologists, engineers, and ecologists. Read a lead author publication focused on interdisciplinary collaboration here. Dr. Roy also routinely engages with the private sector, non-profits, and government agencies.
Past and present research locations include the Mississippi River delta, the agricultural frontier in the Brazilian Amazon & Cerrado regions, Sri Lanka, and Vermont.
Funding for our research has come from USDA NRCS, Lake Champlain Basin Program, The Nature Conservancy of Vermont, Casella Waste Systems Inc., Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, US EPA, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, NOAA, Vermont Agency of Transportation, Gund Institute for Environment, Newtrient LLC, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets, Vermont Office of the Governor, and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research.