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School of Environment and Natural Resources

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Ippolito Research Team

Jim Ippolito
Rattan Lal Endowed Professor of Soil Health and Soil Fertility within SENRJim Ippolito

Jim has 30+ years of experience focused on soil health across numerous ecosystems.  Jim also works with land application of biosolids, biochar, manure, water treatment residuals, and other materials for ensuring improved environmental quality/health.  Jim is originally from New Jersey, obtained a BS degree from the University of Delaware, an MS and PhD from Colorado State University, and has worked for Colorado State University, the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, and now The Ohio State University.

Current Projects:

1. USDA-ARS: The soil health nexus: Biochar use for improving soil health and limiting PFAS movement in soils;

2. Assessing soil health and soil carbon alterations across agroecosystems at the Grace Drake Farm, Wooster, Ohio;

3. USDA: Climate Smart Commodities-Soil Health-Saving Tomorrow’s Agricultural Resources (STAR) program across Colorado and the West;

4. NRCS: A Collaborative Multi-State Research and Technical Assistance Consortium State of Science and Future Opportunities to Address PFAS in Agriculture; NRCS: A Colorado Soil Health Program: Supporting producers and conservation districts to improve drought resilience and water utilization;

5. USDA NRCS/General Mills/NFWF Conservation Partners Program: Advancing soil health through technical assistance and producer incentives in the Republican River Watershed (CO);

6. US EPA & USDA-ARS: Investigating naturally revegetated chat-contaminated soils-assisted revegetation;

7. Project GREEEN (Collaborative research with Michigan State University: Accumulation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Historically Achieved Corn and Wheat Grains;

8. Colorado Dep. Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division: Implementing agricultural best management practices alongside the STAR program;

9. US EPA National Priorities: Evaluation of pollutants in biosolids - Assessing biosolids treatment processes on environmental fate and plant uptake of pollutants from land application of biosolids;

10. Colorado Dep. Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division: Water quality, soil health and regenerative agriculture: A nexus for sustainability.

Other interests:  I really enjoy anything outdoors, and used to extensively run, hike, mountain bike, ski, mountain climb, etc.  Now, and when I can, I love to spend time as well as travel with my wife and family.  I really like solving problems, either at work or at play, and I like helping others be successful. 
 

Liping LiLiping Li
Visiting Scientist from Henan University of Technology
Professor of Environmental Soil Chemistry

Liping has worked in the field of heavy metal pollution and risk control for more than 20 years. Liping is originally from Lingtai County, Gansu Province in western China. He obtained a BS degree from Gansu Agricultural University in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, an MS from Northwest A&F University in Yangling, Shaanxi Province, and a PhD from the Institute of Soil Science, the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Liping is a Professor at the School of the Environment, Henan University of Technology in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China. Liping has worked as a visiting scientist at the US EPA (Cincinnati, OH) with Dr. Kirk G. Scheckel (2012-2014), and at Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO) with Dr. Jim Ippolito (2019-2020). Currently (2024-2025), he is working as a visiting scientist with Dr. Ippolito at The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH). His current research interests focus the control of health risks of heavy metals, especially cadmium, including investigation of heavy metal migration in the food web, human accumulation of heavy metals and the control of cadmium accumulation in crops.

Main research projects:

1. Mechanism of the effect of Ca on the immobilization of Pb in soil with soluble phosphate (National Science Foundation of China).

2. Research and demonstration of the immobilization of heavy metals in Pb-smelting pollution areas (Sub-project of National Key Research and Development Program of China. Ministry of Science and Technology of China-US Environmental Protection Agency Project).

3. Mechanism of Cd absorption by wheat roots, shoots, and leaves, and inner-plant translocation mechanisms (Key Scientific Research Plan of Colleges and Universities in Henan Province, The Education Department of Henan Province).

Other interests: I love cooking and my nickname is Chef Li. My dream is to run a Chinese restaurant somewhere after I retire.

Meet the Team

PhD Candidates

Egondu UmeobiEgondu Umeobi
PhD Candidate, ESGP Program, The Ohio State University

Egondu Umeobi is an accomplished academic, earning a Bachelor of Science in Soil Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a research which focused on environmental impact assessment of mining-impacted land, specifically monitoring contamination levels in mine impacted land in Ebonyi State Nigeria. Egondu is pursuing her Ph.D., which she began in Soil Science at Colorado State University, and is now continuing in Environmental Science at Ohio State University.

Projects:

Egondu's current PhD research centers on restoring soil health in heavy metal-contaminated mine lands. She is passionate about soil and environmental science and is particularly interested in contamination, remediation, and soil health. Egondu's goal is to develop innovative strategies for restoring soil health in mining-impacted areas to mitigate the impact of mining on the environment.

Other interests: Egondu enjoys traveling and engaging in physical activities such as running. In addition, Egondu finds cooking therapeutic and enjoys experimenting with new recipes and cuisines. Cooking is also a great way for Egondu to bond with friends and family over delicious meals.

Catherine SchumakCatherine Schumak
PhD Candidate, Colorado State University

I grew up in North Carolina alongside one of the cleanest rivers in the state. From a young age, I was fascinated with water and its multifaceted role in the environment. This motivated my academic interests, leading me to a B.S. with Honors in Environmental Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a M.S. in Water Resources Management with a focus on Hydrologic Modeling from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. My PhD research centers on modeling claypan hydrology, nutrient and atrazine fate and transport at the watershed scale to quantify the impact of mitigation strategies.

Projects:

1. USDA-ARS: Creating phosphorus and pesticide components for the AgES watershed model. Dynamic Claypan Modeling – characterizing the hydraulic conductivity of shrink-swell smectitic clay soils.

2. Waterborne Environmental/Syngenta:  Process-based versus regulatory Models - simulating atrazine concentrations in Goodwater Creek, MO using the AgES and SEAWAVE-QEX models; Quantifying the impact of mitigation strategies on atrazine loading and exposure using the AgES model.

Other interests: Hiking and birding with my husband Jon, nature photography, gardening, and enjoying time with my two horses Amore and Thunder.


A person wearing sunglasses in front of a waterfall. Xucheng Hu
PhD student, ESGP – SENR, The Ohio State University

Xucheng grew up in Beijing, China, before he came to OSU as an international student. After receiving both of his BS and MS degrees in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at the Ohio State University, Xucheng is currently pursuing a PhD degree with Dr. Jim Ippolito. He recognized his interest in soil when he was doing field sampling and lab analysis in the Soil, Water, and Environmental Lab. Xucheng has hands-on experience with more than 10 soil analytical instruments, has conducted over 30 laboratory procedures, and has composed more than 10 standard operating procedures. His current research focuses on soil health, with a particular interest in the emerging impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on soil health.

Projects:

  1. Examining soil health and the fate of PFAS within biosolids-amended rangeland soils and vegetation.
  2. The Soil Health Nexus: biochar use for improving soil health and limiting PFAS movement in soils and plants.

Other interests:

Xucheng loves traveling, especially taking photographs of natural scenery and landscapes. Besides that, he also enjoys hiking, going to the symphony, attending conferences, doing lab work, fixing instruments, and playing sports.

A person standing in front of trees.

Frances Baez-Lugo
PhD Student, SENR, The Ohio State University

Frances was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez; UPRM), and two master's degrees; one in Engineering Management (Duke University, N.C.) and another in Soil Science (UPRM). She has work experience in technology and management consulting in both the public and private sectors.  

Frances discovered her love for soil by chance after enrolling in a basic soil science class.

She is extremely passionate about soils, and love topics such as soil color, soil formation factors, soil morphology and classification, soil chemistry and mineralogy. Her favorite Puerto Rico soil series is Mariana (Fine, mixed, active, isohyperthermic Typic Haplohumults). 

Projects:

Frances’ current research is focused on soil ecological stoichiometry, with particular interest on carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus biogeochemical cycles and interactions.

Other interests: Frances loves hanging out with friends, traveling, anything cats or garden related, and instrumental music. 

 

MS Candidates


Elizabeth ChouGraduate student
MS Candidate, ESGP, The Ohio State University

Elizabeth is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to pursue a BS in Environmental Science with a Minor in Sustainability Studies at the University of New Mexico. Her passion for agriculture was sparked during a study abroad experience in Porto Alegre, Brazil, where she immersed herself in sustainable agroecological practices and learned about farmers' methodologies for soil preparation within the region’s largest sustainable food system. Following an internship with the New Mexico Environmental Department, Elizabeth developed an interest in environmental policy and is working to bridge the connection between her PFAS soil research and its implications for policy. She is currently pursuing an MS in Environmental Science with a concentration in Climate Change Science and Policy at The Ohio State University.

Projects: Elizabeth’s project focuses on quantifying PPCPs and PFAS in short-term greenhouse trials using biosolids. The experiment will compare the effects of one-time versus long-term biosolid application on soil health and PPCP/PFAS accumulation in wheat and corn. Soil samples have been collected from untreated land in Eastern Colorado, air-dried, and will be placed into containers for surface application of biosolids at different rates. These crops will be grown in a controlled greenhouse setting, and the samples of soil, wheat, and corn will be analyzed to determine the impact of biosolids on PPCP and PFAS content.

Other Interests: Elizabeth loves to travel, play club badminton, try new foods, and cook!

Others that Dr. Ippolito currently serves:

Ohio State University:

  • Serving as committee member for Mr. Mason Reid, PhD candidate, ESGP

  • Serving as committee member for Mr. Mithlesh Mithlesh, PhD candidate, FABE

  • Serving as committee member for Mr. Jaspreet Singh, MS Candidate, SENR
  • Serving as committee member for Ms. Chinmayee Priyadarshini, PhD candidate, SENR
  • Serving as committee member for Mr. Ren Ying Lai, PhD candidate, SENR
  • Serving as committee member for Ms. Betsy Cunningham, MS candidate, HCS

Colorado State University:

  • Serving as committee member for Ms. Huma Tariq, PhD candidate, Dep. Soil & Crop Sci.
  • Serving as committee member for Mr. Ryan Anderson, PhD candidate, Dep. Civil & Environmental Engineering

Washington State University:

  • Serving as committee member for Ms. Madeline Desjardins, PhD candidate, Washington State University

Others that Dr. Ippolito has recently served

Ohio State University:

  • Served as committee member for Ms. Brittany Multer-Hopkins, PhD candidate, SENR
  • Served as committee member for Mr. Alec Ogg, MS candidate, SENR
  • Served as committee member for Mr. Jorge Rodriguez, MS candidate, HCS

Past Students

Tad Trimarco, PhDTad Trimarco, Colorado State University
Tad is currently a Post Doctoral Student studying water quality and soil health at the University of Florida.

Tad’s primary focus with the Ippolito Research Team was on the interaction of regenerative agriculture and the ecosystem services provided by healthy soils – namely water quality protection and greenhouse gas mitigation. His work focused on the role of Best Management Practices in regulating ecosystem health. Tad is originally from central CO, obtained his BS in Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University and PhD from the same institution.

Projects:

1. Colorado Dep. Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division: Water quality, soil health and regenerative agriculture: A nexus for sustainability.

2. Colorado Ag Water Alliance: Assessment of biochar as a potential water quality and water storage regulator in agricultural soils

 

Austin P. HopkinsAustin P. Hopkins, PhD, Colorado State University
Austin is currently a Research Scientist at Rocky Mountain Agronomics in Idaho.

Austin grew up in South-Eastern Idaho working on an Ag research farm, moving irrigation pipe, harvesting potatoes, raising 4-H pigs etc. I worked with my dad (who is also a soil scientist) from a young age. I took thousands of plant and soil samples before I even started middle school and I suppose it was punishment enough that I wanted to keep it going in my own adult life. I earned my B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Science from Brigham Young University (BYU). My thesis work centered around estimating leaf area index in irrigated wheat fields to better inform variable rate irrigation systems within precision agriculture. 

Projects:

1. USDA-ARS: Measured Annual Nutrient Loads from Agricultural Environments (MANAGE) Database. How do agriculture management decisions affect the water quality across North American Ecoregions?

2. Varda: Soil Hive. A platform for accessing, comparing and visualizing global soils data and how it can prove valuable to a variety of audiences and users.


Oliver Hoffman, MSOliver Hoffman, The Ohio State University
Oliver is currently employed in the Commodity Inspection Division, Seed Program with the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Oliver, originally from Oregon moved to Colorado for his bachelors degree at CSU in Soil and Crop Science, complemented with a minor in GIS. His work in agriculture took shape while aiding in the management of family farmland in southern Minnesota. While in Colorado, Oliver worked for a number of institutions: Colorado Department of Agriculture, the Cutrufo Soil Innovation Lab, the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, and the Soil Health and Environmental Quality Lab. Oliver completed a Master’s degree in SENR at The Ohio State University. 

Projects:

1. Investigating the ability of the Soil Management Assessment Framework’s ability to quantify soil health in ecological and agricultural systems in Faribault County, MN.

2. Assessing the influence of the soil microbiome on soil health frameworks in Faribault County, MN.

3. Federal CIG: A Colorado Soil Health Pilot Program: Supporting producers and conservation districts to improve drought resilience and water utilization.

4. CDPHE + CDA State 319: Implementing agricultural best management practices within Colorado Soil Health Pilot Program.

5. CPP: Advancing Soil Health through Technical Assistance and Producer Incentives in the Republican River Watershed of Colorado.

 

Xucheng HuXucheng Hu, MS Candidate, The Ohio State University
Xucheng is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program at The Ohio State University.

Xucheng grew up in Beijing, China, before he came to Ohio State as an international student. After receiving his B.S. degree in Natural Resource Management from Ohio State in May 2023, Xucheng pursued an M.S. degree with Dr. Jim Ippolito. He recognized his interest in soil when he was doing field sampling and lab analysis in the soil chemistry lab. Additionally, he focused on comparing the methodologies in pyrogenic carbon quantifications in soils in his undergraduate research. Xucheng is passionate about soil health associations regarding different landscapes and management practices. He is also maintains an interest in soil carbon pools and carbon dynamics in agroecosystems.

Projects:

1. Assessing soil health and soil carbon alterations across agroecosystems at the Grace Drake Farm, Wooster, Ohio;

2. Comparison between the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) and the Haney Soil Health Test (HSHT) in diverse agroecosystems under varying management practices in Colorado.