Rachel Cruz Perez
Rachel Cruz Perez is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Penn State. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Integrative Biology from the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. Her undergraduate thesis focused on root ecology and plant functional traits, specifically root tensile strength. In addition, she has also worked with organic matter characterization in forests. For graduate school, her research interests lie in the intersection between terrestrial ecology and soil biogeochemistry. She is also interested in studying forests’ plant-soil interactions and ecosystem functioning to address pressing global concerns.