Much of our daily lives and the fascinating biodiversity that surrounds us is the result of species interactions involving plants. Some of these interactions we can see plainly—such as insects pollinating flowers and contributing to the production of everyday foods like blueberries, almonds, and even chocolate (thank you, pollinators!). Other interactions, however, are hidden underground. For example, many soil bacteria and fungi exchange nutrients with roots, which improves soil quality and facilitates biogeochemical cycling. But in a world that’s riddled with anthropogenic change (agricultural intensification, climate change, ubranization, etc.), how is the ecology and evolution of these crucial above- and below-ground interactions being altered as a result? What are the biological forces that mediate their responses to common stressors? Can we develop sustainable strategies that nevertheless maximize ecosystem services in our modern world? These are the big questions motivating my research. Currently, I am working as a USDA postdoctoral researcher, studying the effects of agricultural practices on interactions between plants and microbes from the root microbiome and plant-pollinator interactions with the Baucom Lab and the James Lab at the University of Michigan.

About Me

Welcome! My name is Veronica Iriart (pronounced like eerie + art), and I am an evolutionary ecologist. Before starting my current position as a postdoc at the University of Michigan, I received my PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, where I worked in the Ashman Lab. In my dissertation, I researched the effects of pesticide pollution on flowering patterns in plant communities and the symbiotic mutualism between plants and nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria.

I was fortunate to have obtained several unique research experiences in the past which ultimately inspired my current work in science. These included: Australian wildlife research during a semester abroad at the University of Melbourne (Melbourne, VIC, AUS), integrative animal behavior work at my alma mater, Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC), and marine ecology and evolution research during an internship at the University of Massachusetts – Boston (Boston, MA).

I believe an important part of my job as a scientist is to act as a science communicator. In my blog, I share discoveries from my research, fun activities for science outreach, and just some general musings about the amazing role of plants in our world. If you’d like to get in touch, please see my Contact page!