V. BALA CHAUDHARY
Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 508-3615, [email protected] www.balachaudhary.com
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Biological Sciences (with distinction) - Northern Arizona University 2010 (advisor: Dr.
Nancy C. Johnson). Dissertation title: Patterns in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species distributions across spatial scales
M.S. Biological Sciences (with distinction) - Northern Arizona University 2006 (advisor: Dr.
Nancy C. Johnson). Thesis title: Functions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at community and ecosystem scales in semi-arid environments
B.A. Biological Sciences (specialization in Ecology and Evolution) - University of Chicago 1999
(advisors: Dr. R. Michael Miller and Dr. James D. Bever). Thesis title: Effects of elevated CO2 on root morphology and mycorrhizal fungi in a tallgrass prairie
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Lecturer, Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago 2012-present Adjunct Faculty, School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona
University 2010-2012
National Science Foundation GK-12 Fellow, Biology Department, Northern Arizona University
2009-2010
National Science Foundation IGERT Fellow, Biology Department, Northern Arizona University
2006-2009
Graduate Research Assistant, Biology Department, Northern Arizona University, 2003-2006 Biologist, Earthworks Restoration Consulting, Los Angeles, 2000-2003
Research Technician, Ecology and Evolution, University of California, Irvine, 1999-2000 TEACHING EXPERIENCE (*indicates leadership role in development of course)
*Soil Ecology (ENVS 223), Loyola University Chicago
Foundations of Environmental Science (ENVS137), Loyola University Chicago Scientific Basis of Environmental Issues (UCSF137), Loyola University Chicago Human Impacts on the Environment (ENVS281), Loyola University Chicago Environmental Research (ENVS391), Loyola University Chicago
Directed Readings in Environmental Science (ENVS399), Loyola University Chicago *Meta-analyses and Fungal Symbiosis (ENV599), Northern Arizona University Ecology (ENV326), Biogeography Unit, Northern Arizona University
*K-12 General Science, NSF GK-12 BIOTEC Program, Northern Arizona University *Foundations of Ecology (BIO698), Northern Arizona University
Biology of Humans (Online; BIO310), Northern Arizona University Conservation Biology (ENV/BIO 440/540), Northern Arizona University *Restoration Field Research (BIO13), Irvine Valley College
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Fellowship 2010 ($7,000)
National Science Foundation GK-12 Graduate Fellowship 2009 ($30,000)
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Fellowship 2009 ($7,000)
National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Fellowship 2006-2008 ($75,000)
IGERT Undergraduate Research Fellowship with Kristine Akland, 2007 ($3,000)
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Fellowship 2006 ($6,000)
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Fellowship 2005 ($6,000)
Bureau of Land Management Graduate Research Assistantship 2003-2006 ($37,000)
Argonne National Laboratory Undergraduate Research Fellowship, 1998 ($2,500)
AWARDS
Liebentritt Faculty Development Award, 2013-14
Best Oral Presentation, Soil Ecology Section of the Ecological Society of America 2008
Fungal Environmental Sampling and Informatics Network Travel Award 2008
Best Student Presentation Honorable Mention, Society for Ecological Restoration 2007
Parkinson Student Travel Award, Soil Ecology Society 2007
Northern Arizona University Student Travel Award 2005
PUBLICATIONS
1. Chaudhary, VB, TE O’Dell, MC Rillig, NC Johnson. 2014. Scale-dependent patterns in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities of semi-arid shrublands. Fungal Ecology, in press.
2. Rúa, MA, A Antoninka, PM Antunes, VB Chaudhary, C Gehring, LJ Lamit, BJ Piculell, J Bever, C Zabinski, JF Meadow, MJ Lajeunesse, B Milligan, M Gardes, J Karst, JD Hoeksema. 2014. Home is where the hyphae are: a meta-analysis exploring local adaptation mycorrhizal fungal relationships. New Phytologist, in review.
3. Álvarez-Sánchez, J, NC Johnson, A Antoninka, VB Chaudhary, MK Lau, SM Owen, I Sánchez-Gallen, G Guadarrama, S Castillo. 2011. Large-scale diversity patterns in spore communities of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. In Pagano, MC (Ed.) Mycorrhiza: Occurrence in Natural and Restored Environments. pp 29-48. Nova Science Inc., New York.
4. Hoeksema, JD, VB Chaudhary, CA Gehring, NC Johnson, J Karst, RT Koide, A Pringle, C Zabinski, JD Bever, JC Moore, GWT Wilson, JN Klironomos, and J Umbanhowar. 2010. A meta-analysis of context-dependency in plant response to inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi. Ecology Letters 13(3):394-407.
5. Chaudhary, VB, LL Walters, JD Bever, JD Hoeksema, GWT Wilson. 2010. Advancing synthetic ecology: database system to facilitate complex ecological meta-analyses. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 91(2):235-243.
6. Johnson, NC, VB Chaudhary, JD Hoeksema, JC Moore, A Pringle, JA Umbanhower, GWT Wilson. 2009. Mysterious mycorrhizae? A field trip and classroom experiment to demystify the symbioses formed between plants and fungi. American Biology Teacher 71:424-429.
7. Chaudhary, VB, TE O’Dell, MA Bowker, JB Grace, AE Redman, MC Rillig, NC Johnson. 2009. Untangling the biological controls of soil stability in semi-arid shrublands. Ecological Applications 19:110-122.
8. Bowker, MA, J Belnap, VB Chaudhary, NC Johnson. 2008. Revisiting classic water erosion models in drylands: the strong impact of biological soil crusts. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 40:2309-2316.
9. Chaudhary, VB, MK Lau, and NC Johnson. 2008. Macroecology of Microbes – Biogeography of the Glomeromycota. In Varma, Ajit (Ed.) Mycorrhiza: Genetics and Molecular Biology, Eco-Function, Biotechnology, Eco-Physiology, Structure and Systematics, 3rd edition. pp. 529-564. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
10. Johnson, NC, JD Hoeksema, JD Bever, VB Chaudhary, C Gehring, J Klironomos, R Koide, RM Miller, J Moore, P Moutoglis, M Schwartz, S Simard, W Swenson, J Umbanhowar, G Wilson, C Zabinski. 2006. From Lilliput to Brobdingnag: extending models of mycorrhizal function across scales. Bioscience 56:889-900.
11. Chaudhary, VB and MJ Griswold. 2001. Mycorrhizal Fungi – a Restoration Practitioner’s Point of View. Ecesis.11:1-10.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS Invited:
Urban Ecology and Green Infrastructure. Soil in the City Conference – Enhancing Urban Soils for Living Landscapes and Healthy Communities. Chicago, IL. July 2014.
Conservation of Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity and Function. Plant Biology and Conservation Seminar Series. Northwestern University. Evanston, IL. March 2014.
The Secret’s in the Soil: Conserving Diversity and Function of Mycorrhizal Fungi. Institute of Environmental Sustainability Seminar Series. Chicago, IL December 2013.
What can soil organisms do for you? Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Advisory Committee Meeting. Escalante, UT, 2008
Is the fate of native plants determined belowground? Utah Native Plant Society. Kanab, 2008 Mi proyectitos: Pasado, presente, y futuro. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas,
Caracas, Venezuela, 2007. Presented in Spanish
How much do mycorrhizal fungal communities contribute to the soil stability of arid
ecosystems? Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Science Forum. Cedar City, UT, 2006
It’s a dryworld afterall: functional ecology of arid ecosystems. International Conference on Mycorrhizas. Granada, Spain, 2006
Contributed:
High-impact teaching practices in soil ecology: examples from K-12 and higher ed. Soil Ecology Society Meetings. Camden, NJ. June 2013.
Variation in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal abundance and diversity in semi-arid shrublands is scale-dependent. Ecological Society of America. Milwaukee, 2008
Untangling the biological contributions to soil stability in semi-arid shrublands. Ecology Society of America. San Jose, 2007
How much do AM fungi contribute to soil stability in semi-arid shrublands? Soil Ecology Society. Moab, 2007
Is Soil Stability Linked to Mycorrhizal Fungi?Untangling the Arid Ecology of Fungal Mutualists. Biennial Colorado Plateau Science Conference. Flagstaff, 2005
The Secret’s in the Soil: Can Mycorrhizae Ameliorate Arid Land Desertification? Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Science Forum. Staircase-Escalante, 2005
Unstable Soils Exhibit Depauperate AM Fungal Communities: Untangling the Mycorrhizal Ecology of Arid Lands. Soil Ecology Society. Chicago, 2005
SERVICE ACTIVITIES
Ongoing Environmental Sciences Department curriculum development for existing and new majors, minors, and masters programs; Loyola University Chicago
Development and implementation of new Foundational Science Core course (UCSF137) with core implementation committee, Loyola University Chicago
Faculty Advisor, Loyola Hindu Students Organization
Committee to develop ENVS NTT promotion guidelines
Member LUREC Land Management Committee
Dissertation Committee member and Ph.D. advisor to Kelly Ksiazek, Ph.D. Candidate at Northwestern University and Chicago Botanic Gardens
Graduate admissions committee, Biology Department, Northern Arizona University
Guest lecturer and science fair judge for local K-12 science classrooms
Undergraduate Research Advisees:
Sarah Ashcraft-Johnson (2014-present) Aqsa Junagadhwala (2014-present) Susanna Lohmar (2014-present) Emily Sandall (2013-2014)
Sean Kelly (2013-2014) Carlyn Van Camp (2008-2009)
Matthew Halldorson (2004-2005) Kristine Akland (2006-2009) Miranda Mullet (2004-2005) Telesha Irving (2006)
Trenton Baker (2005-2006) Rebekka Rieder (2005-2006)
Dwayne Benalli (2005)
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Participant, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) working group entitled, “A
working group to solve problems in model selection and phylogeny in mixed multi-factor meta-analysis”, January 2012-present
Instructor, Distributed Graduate Seminar sponsored by the National Center for Ecological
Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) entitled, “Network to facilitate synthetic research on context-dependency in Mycorrhizal Symbiosis”, 2010-2014
Visiting researcher, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Centro de Ecologia,
Caracas, Venezuela, 2008
Participant, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study working group, Harvard University. “From
promise to reality: appropriate contexts for the use of mycorrhizal fungi as organic fertilizers”, 2006
Participant, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) working group
entitled, “Narrowing the gap between theory and practice in mycorrhizal management”, 2004-2009
Co-developer, “MycoDB”, free internet-based database software product developed to aid in
ecological meta-analyses, 2004-2010
Manuscript Reviewer, Ecology, Fungal Ecology, Botany, Basic and Applied Ecology, Biological
Conservation, Functional Ecology, Journal of Arid Environments, Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Mycorrhiza, and Revista Scientia Agricola
