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Saheed Jimoh

Saheed Jimoh

Postdoctoral Associate

CONTACT

sj183@rice.edu

WEBSITE(S)| McCary Lab

SURF Mentoring

Potential projects/topics: The student will participate in a project seeking to understand whether root traits are a mechanism underlying plant invasion by comparing invasive and native species. The experiment will be conducted in a greenhouse using transparent microcosms (called ‘rhizoboxes’) to grow invasive and native species; above- and belowground traits will be monitored in each rhizobox. The student will learn to measure aboveground traits in the greenhouse and belowground traits in the lab using a flatbed scanner after washing root samples. All data will be recorded as directed.

Potential skills gained: Plant aboveground trait measurements (e.g., plant height, leaf area); Plant belowground trait measurements (e.g., specific root length, root diameter); Fine root scanning with a flatbed scanner; Use of WinRhizo and RhizoVision software to measure root traits; Field and lab data collection; Statistical analysis

Required qualifications:

  • Required skills: No prior experience is required, as the student will be trained in all fields and lab techniques; an interest in functional and invasion ecology may be an added advantage. There may be an opportunity for the student to pursue their own research question using the collected data if desirable.

Direct mentor: Post-doctorate

Research Areas

Broadly, my work focuses on four key areas 1) functional traits and plant adaptation to environmental conditions, 2) effects of resource availability on species composition and resilience, 3) biodiversity conservation, and 4) ecosystem processes. I examine these research areas across diverse ecosystems using a combination of experimental manipulations, observational studies, and modelling techniques. I use trait-based approaches to explore the functional roles of above- and belowground plant traits in shaping ecosystem processes. Recently, my work has expanded into microbial ecology, exploring how plant–microbe interactions influence ecosystem functioning and resilience in the context of plant invasion. By integrating field experiments and trait-based analyses, I aim to develop predictive insights into plant–soil–microbe relationships and their implications for ecosystem sustainability.