Jenifer Yost
Biology and Environmental Studies
Lake Forest College
(1) June 2013: Presented research at the International Union of Soil Science Global Soil Carbon Conference.
(2) May 2013 - Present: Worked for Lynn Westley at Lake Forest College continuing thesis work on soil aggregates at the Chicago Botanic Garden and Northwestern University (CBG/NU Advisors: Louise Egerton-Warburton and Katie Schreiner).
(3) Sept. 2012 - May 2013: Intern at the Chicago Botanic Garden in the Soil and Fungal Lab (CBG Advisors: Corey Palmer and Louise Egerton-Warburton).
(4) May - July 2012: Worked for Sean Menke at Lake Forest College studying ant community composition in savannah environments in McHenry County, Illinois.
(5) January - May 2012: Interned at the Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest, IL and managed care and feeding of various reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
(6) June 2008 - Present: Figure skating instructor at Park Ridge Park District specializing in beginner skaters (tots and up).
Organic Matter stabilization in soil aggregates during grassland restorations (2013)
Soil & Fungal Biology
(Project #1) Percent Carbon based on Dry Combustion (LECO CN Analyzer) Q: Do restoration practices improve soil carbon sequestration (storage) over time? *Macroaggregates vs. microaggregates (Project #2) Stable Isotope Signatures Q: Do aggregate 13C signatures reflect any changes in litter inputs from C3 and C4 plants over the duration of management? Q: Are there differences between the macro- and micro- aggregates? (Project #3) Lignin Phenol Analysis (TMAH Thermochemolysis GC-MS) Q: How and why are the macro- and microaggregates being degraded? Q: What plants are being degraded in macro- and micro- aggregates? *Angiosperms, gymnosperms, leaves, grasses, woody plants