People

Jon Bennett (Associate Professor)

I am a plant ecologist with broad interests; however, most of my work these days focuses on plant-soil interactions in natural and seeded grasslands, with an additional focus on invasive species. Before starting at USask, I did my PhD at the University of Alberta on plant-plant, plant-microbe, and plant-pollinator interactions in grasslands. I followed up my PhD with two postdocs: one at the University of Tartu on trait based approaches to predicting invasion and one at the University of British Columbia-Okanagan on plant-soil interactions, focusing on mycorrhizas. When I  am not hanging out with my kids, I can be reached at jon.bennett@usask.ca

Martina Cardoni

I came from Italy, and I joined Bennett lab as postdoc in October 2023. My research focuses on understanding the environmental drivers of plant–soil–microbe interactions, particularly plant–soil feedbacks. I explore how environmental factors, microbial diversity, and plant functional traits shape plant performance and ecosystem functioning. I obtained my Ph.D. in Agronomy, Food, Forestry, and Rural Development Engineering from the University of Córdoba (Spain) in 2023. My doctoral research focused on belowground defense mechanisms contributing to olive cultivar tolerance or susceptibility to the fungus Verticillium dahliae, integrating structural, biochemical, genetic, and physiological analyses. After my Ph.D., I worked as a Research Assistant at the Experimental Station of Zaidín in Granada (Spain), where I investigated the effects of introducing biological control agents on root-associated microbial communities in olive trees.

ResearchGate

Jack Royle

I joined the Bennett Lab as a postdoctoral fellow in 2024 to lead the metagenomic components of the Grassland Genomics for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation project. My research focuses on understanding how the functional potential of soil microbial communities is shaped by plants, and how this governs soil carbon retention across Canadian grasslands. Using long-read metagenomics combined with plant genomics, I aim to explore how microbial communities & processes that stabilize carbon in soils can be influenced by belowground inputs from plants. Before arriving in Saskatchewan, I completed my PhD at Queensland University of Technology (Australia), where I studied how epigenetic mechanisms influence development and environmental adaptability in insects. I then spent several years at the Australian Genome Research Facility developing long-read sequencing and metagenomic workflows as an Innovation and Development Scientist. I am always open to collaborative opportunities in the genomic and metagenomic space, and can be reached at jack.royle@usask.ca.

Shuyin Huang

Before starting my life in the Canadian prairies, I spent most of my research career in the tropics. I completed my Master’s degree at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, located in the tropical region of southwestern China. There, I studied the elevational diversity patterns of tree-trunk-dwelling arthropods, an experience that deepened my love for nature—especially for tropics and the extraordinary lives they sustain. After a few years of wandering, I began my PhD at the University of the Ryukyus on the tropical island of Okinawa in the western Pacific. My doctoral research focused on the origin and maintenance of plant communities along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients across East Asian islands. During my PhD, I also investigated soil protist diversity using eDNA, which sparked my fascination with the hidden diversity of microorganisms. At Bennett Lab, I am now exploring the complex relationships between plant communities and their belowground microbial associates, particularly how microbial communities contribute to the maintenance of prairie plant diversity.

Suma Ghosh (PhD)

I came from Bangladesh and joined the Bennett Ecology Lab as a PhD student since January 2022. Before that, I completed my BSc degree majoring in Agriculture and MSc degree majoring in Environmental Sciences from Bangladesh. My MSc research was exploring the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the biochemical parameters of arsenic treated field pea. With this research, I got a hand in mycorrhizal research techniques, and found my passion for mycorrhizal fungi. Following that I joined Bennett’s lab as a PhD student and here I am trying to optimize the benefits of AMF in forage crop species. To be more specific, my research attempts to identify plant and mycorrhizal traits responsible for mycorrhizal responsiveness to the varieties of Alfalfa and Sainfoin. Additionally, there has been research for identifying possible mycorrhizal inocula in salinity tolerance of forage crops. Hopefully, my research will bring interesting findings to bring sustainability in forage crop production.

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Yun Huang (MSc)

I joined the Bennett Ecology Lab in 2022 after completing a B. Sc. Honours in Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. I recently finished my MSc in the lab, where I explored the plant-soil feedback in a perennial forage system across gradients of native-tame plant community diversity and under contrasting harvest regimes. More broadly, I am interested in the temporal dynamics of plant-soil effects, and how these insights inform species coexistence, community assembly, and biodiversity-ecosystem functioning, ultimately to enhance resilience and agricultural sustainability.

Runli Yuan (MSc)

I completed my BSc in Gardening from Southeast Agricultural University (China). During my undergraduate studies, I spent three months as a research assistant in the Chang Lab at the University of Alberta, assisting with studies on beneficial management practices in agroforestry systems. This experience sparked my interest in scientific research and led me to design two independent thesis projects on the application of biochar in plant growth and water purification. Later, I also participated in research on the breeding of Hippeastrum and turfgrasses at Northeast Agricultural University. Combining my interests in plants and soil, I joined the Bennett Lab in September 2022, where I study how including native forages in mixtures can enhance late-season forage quality (and carbon storage potential). I’m always curious about the world, if I’m not doing research in the lab, you can probably find me out in nature.

Rebeca Crespo (PhD)

I was born and raised in the Brazilian Amazon region. I completed a BSc in Environmental Engineering from Pará State University (Brazil) in 2018, with an undergraduate thesis about the Amhertieae tribe (Fabaceae) collection at the IAN Herbarium, where I was an intern. From this experience in the plant sciences, I went on to complete an MSc in Environmental Sciences, specialization Ecosystems and Biodiversity in 2021 from a double degree program between the University of Hohenheim (Germany) and the University of Copenhagen (Denmark). There I had the opportunity to participate in different projects related to invasive plant species, which became a special interest of mine, and wrote my master thesis on the role of botanical gardens in the introduction and spread of invasive plants in Europe. I joined the Bennett Lab in September 2022 where I am investigating how mycorrhizas influence invasion in grasslands, with a focus on leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula).

Zinat Akbarzadeh (MSc)

I am a Master’s student in the Bennett Lab, and I joined in September 2023. I completed my B.Sc. in Plant Protection at the University of Guilan in Iran. My research focuses on Artemisia absinthium (absinthe wormwood), an invasive species in North American rangelands. Through field and greenhouse experiments, I study its competitive and allelopathic effects on native and forage plants, with broader interests in invasion ecology and sustainable land management.

Itaii Applebaum (PhD)

Born in Israel, graduated with his BSc in biology from the Israel Open University, and MSc in biology from the Bar-Ilan University. His research interests are plant and soil ecology, plant invasion, microbial and insect community ecology, and innovation in field equipment (ice cream truck for soil ecology sampling).

His current research in the GG4GHG focuses on the effect of plant genetics on soil biota, and effects of drought and fire on the soil biota in other projects.

Apart from his research work, he is the current president of the U of S Hillel club and leads a Jewish tradition study group on campus (Beit Midrash).

Leonardo Henning (MSc)

I’m from Brazil, where I earned my BSc in Agriculture from the Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR). My undergraduate research focused on using botanical insecticides to control agricultural pests. In 2023, I joined this lab through the MITACS Globalink Research Internship, where I got my first hands-on experience with soil microbes while helping with the Living Labs project. That experience sparked my curiosity about plant–soil feedbacks, which I now explore as a master’s student.

I started my master’s in the fall of 2024, studying how different grazing regimes (and many other factors) shape plant–soil feedbacks in native grasslands. When I’m not being a professional nerd at work, I’m usually being a casual one at home, diving into hobbies like photography, fishkeeping, and 3D printing.

ResearchGate

Shreemi Prabhakaran

Shreemi Prabhakaran is a Ph.D. student with her research focusing on understanding how plant identity and diversity influence soil carbon dynamics and soil health metrics in grassland ecosystems. She is co-supervised by Dr. Hongjie Zhang at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Swift Current. Shreemi holds an M.Sc. (Agriculture) and a B.Sc. (Honours) in Plant Science from Dalhousie University and a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India. Her previous work with AAFC Kentville for her master's project examined soil carbon and microbial activity under different wood residue amendments, giving her strong expertise in soil analytical methods and sustainable agriculture. When she’s not darting around the ecology lab tracking down people for new soil analysis supplies, she’s probably watching a good movie—or two.

Soudeh Farzadfar

Soudeh completed her PhD at the University of Saskatchewan in December 2022 and joined our group at the start of 2023. She has been leading the establishment of our new absinth control and barley inoculation projects, but contributes to the lab in so many other ways!

Raiza de Almeida Mesquita

I am originally from Brazil, where I obtained a BEng and a Master of Engineering, focusing on biotechnology. I moved to Saskatoon in 2018 and obtained a Master of Science at the Veterinary Microbiology department, at WCVM. I joined Bennett Lab in April 2024 as a Molecular Lab Technician. As such, I am involved in a range of activities, from DNA extraction to amplification of desired targets and sequencing in diverse platforms. I collaborate in all the projects that have a Molecular Biology component.

Bahati Chisala-Nyekanyeka (MSc, MBA, PMP)

Bahati joined the lab in June 2023 as a Project Manager with over 10+ years of experience within the biosciences field. Her career spans the federal government, private sector, public health and agricultural research, where she has held diverse roles across various projects. She is currently responsible for managing the Grassland Genomics for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation (GG4GHG) Project and other research projects in the Bennett Lab. Her responsibilities include overseeing project execution, managing budgets, ensuring regulatory compliance, mitigating risks, coordinating teams and maintaining comprehensive project documentation.

Hanh Pham

Hanh, originally from Vietnam, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science with a major in Biochemistry and Microbiology from the University of Saskatchewan. She joined our team in August 2024 and works in our molecular lab, lending a hand across different parts of the analysis process—though she mainly focuses on digital PCR and microscopic assessments. You can also spot her in the field from time to time, helping out and enjoying the fieldwork experience!

Kimberley Rogl

Kim is originally from Australia and came to our lab, February 2025. She holds a PhD degree from Queensland University of Technology specializing in evolutionary biology and genomics. She is currently working in our molecular lab involved across various projects.

Ethan Englot

Dylan Rousson

Kiah Bryce

Lily Jorgenson

Joseph Cooper

Undergraduate research thesis students

Erin Anderson - Leafy spurge effects on forage

Seth Lundell - Microbially mediated drought resistance

Carolynn Zdan - Competition and defoliation effects on leafy spurge

Matthew Trefiak - Control of common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

John Paul Wasan - Absinthe invasion in the prairies

Emily Soveran - Temporal variation in plant-soil feedback

Obaida Elshamy - Multi-year effects of mycorrhizal suppression on common tansy

Graduate students

Sheila Taillon (MSc) - Enhancing control of leafy spurge

Stephen Awodele (MSc) - Plant-soil feedback in alfalfa

Aisa Kuper-Psenicnik (MSc) - Stress effects on mycorrhizas in alfalfa

Erin Malis (MSc) - Non-target effects of repeated herbicide application

Feng Zhang (visiting PhD student) - Plant diversity and mycorrhizal benefits

Mehran Ali (visiting PhD student) - Mycorrhizal ecology of grasslands

Jiahua Zheng (visiting PhD student) - Grazing effects on mycorrhizal fungi

Postdoctoral fellows

Dr. Lysandra Pyle - Mycorrhizas in native and tame grasslands 

Mitacs interns

Leonardo Henning - Plant-soil feedback in the Canadian prairies

Jeanne Riccardo - Ecosystem services in Canadian prairies

Eva Rojas - Plant-soil microbe interactions in grasslands

Undergraduate research assistants

Dawson Conlon

Danielle Dordu

Maia Pepler

Avriel Banks

Tue Nguyen

Katie Kennedy

Hannah Dyck

Minh Nguyen

Spencer Kutcher

Emily Wudrick

Lauren Whytock

Erin Anderson

Alicia Caplan

Jacqueline Gelineau

Anna Jacobsen

Amanda Mitchell

Lee Paulow

Chris Thorne

Nicole Wensman

Seth Lundell

Stuart Matthews

Catherine Liu

Terava Groff