A question & answer session to get to know the 2025-2026 GG Scholar Rachel Simoes, 1st year graduate student in the Microbiology Program.
What aspect of genetics and/or genomics most interests you?
I am interested in using various sequencing techniques to characterize soil microbiomes. Looking at certain genes allows us to identify microbial species and observe how the microbial community changes over time. In Dr. Mallory Choudoir’s lab I am excited to examine how soil microbiomes change due to agricultural management, specifically organic amendment regimes and sustainable agricultural practices.
What (or Who) influenced you to go into your field of study?
I have had great science teachers throughout my schooling who made science engaging and encouraged me to seek opportunities in research. As an undergraduate researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I spent 2 years under Dr. Kristen DeAngelis studying the effect of long-term warming on soil microbial communities. In the DeAngelis Lab, I was surrounded by enthusiastic and supportive scientists who helped develop my confidence as a researcher and prepared me to pursue a graduate education.
Who or what do you hope benefits from your research?
Understanding soil microbiome dynamics will inform agricultural practices towards resilience and efficiency in a rapidly changing world. I believe my work will benefit farmers and the general public through improved agricultural management and access to quality food. Additionally, soil microbiomes are the foundation of a variety of ecosystems and maintaining these communities will aid conservation efforts across the globe.
How can your research be used to inform decision makers (e.g. policy makers, resource managers, health practitioners, K12 educators, etc etc)?
Understanding the underpinnings of soil nutrient cycling through microbial functions allows us to predict best practices and improve our ability to protect food systems. My work will inform both farmers and USDA policy makers in formulating regulation and best practice recommendations for crop and soil management.
What do you think is the most pressing issue or problem in your field of study?
Right now there is a wealth of information and methods we can use on microbiomes. Integrating multi-omics approaches with large scale measurements is essential to achieve accurate understanding of soil microbiome functionality. However, this abundance and complexity makes it difficult to draw straight forward conclusions. While I work to incorporate various approaches in my research, I will emphasize science communication to disseminate the multitude of factors that go into soil microbiome activity to general audiences.
How do you expect the GG Scholars program to impact your work?
GGS connects me with researchers and departments across campus. Everyday I get to hear about different perspectives in the field of genetics and genomics which allows me to consider a broader range of applications in my research questions. Working with other graduate students from different backgrounds makes developing connections way more accessible and opens doors to future collaborations. GGS thus far a little pep squad behind my first year of graduate school.
How would you describe your research interests to a 3rd grader?
I grow bacteria and use their DNA to learn how microbial communities (microbiomes) in dirt can help us protect plants and the environment.
What’s your dream job?
Ultimately, I want to develop microbial applications for environmental solutions. Soil microbiomes can act as environmental reinforcers directing nutrient cycling, improving crop yields and even degrading pollutants. I hope to be a professor where I will be able to continue mentoring young researchers through research. I would like to encourage undergraduate researchers to see themselves as impactful members of the scientific community as I had the opportunity to do in the past.
