Dr. Jessica LM Gutknecht
Conatact / Address
jessica.gutknecht@ufz.de
Tel.: +49 345-558-5255
Fax: +49 345-558-5449
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ
Department of Soil Ecology
Theodor-Lieser-Strasse 4
D-06120 Halle/Saale
Research interests: soil microoganisms and ecosystem function
The role of soil microorganisms in ecosystem scale processes including response to a changing global environment, nutrient cycling, biogeochemistry, and soil quality.
Specifically:
Temporal dynamics of microbial community structure and function in response to future global change
Microbial ecophysiological shifts after prolonged global change treatments
Microbial ecophysiological shifts under different management practices
Understanding microbial dynamics under agricultural management, for better soil quality
Current position
since April 2009
Senior Scientist in soil microbial ecology and ecosystem function, Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ
Curriculum Vitae
2007-2009
Postdoctoral research. Use of stable isotope methodology to study rhizosphere microbiology and root- impact on soil carbon cycling and response to soil warming. University of California, Santa Cruz, USA
2007
Ph. D. thesis: Exploring long-term microbial responses to simulated global change, including temporal, functional, and community ecophysiological responses. Soil Science Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison. USA
2004
M. Sc. Microbial response over time to hydrologic and fertilization treatments in a simulated wet prairie; Linking soil processes and microbial ecology in wetland ecosystems. Soil Science Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison. USA
2000
B.S. Major subject Microbiology, minor subjects Chemistry and Applied Ethics. Oregon State University, USA
Appointments as a referee
Soil Biology and Biochemistry; Ecological Engineering
Teaching and outreach
Invited speaker: Soil is alive: managing agricultural practices for soil health. Juneau county, Wisconsin NRCS education day, Mauston, WI, USA
Invited speaker: CRP to cropland: potential loss of CRP soil quality benefits. Wisconsin Crop Production Association Convention, Alliant Energy Center, Madison WI, USA
Presenter of global change science; University of Wisconsin “Science Expeditions” family event
Teaching assistant; Forum on the Environment (Environmental Studies/Soil Science 101), University of Wisconsin; primary instructor T.C. Balser
Teaching assistant; Soil Biology (Soil Science 323, University of Wisconsin; primary instructors Drs. T.C. Balser and A.E. MacGuidwin)
Publications
Gutknecht J.L., Goodman R.M., Balser T.C. (2006)
Linking soil processes and microbial ecology in freshwater wetland ecosystems.
Plant and Soil 298, 17-34 
download
Mentzer* J.L., Goodman R.M., Balser T.C. (2006)
Microbial response over time to hydrologic and fertilization treatments in a simulated wet prairie.
Plant and Soil 284, 85-100 download
*surname changed to Gutknecht in fall of 2006