Rate My Professor Jennifer DeBruyn

Jennifer DeBruyn is a Professor of Environmental Microbiology in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research expertise lies in environmental microbiology and microbial ecology, focusing on the processes of decomposition and biodegradation in terrestrial environments. She studies how microbial communities recycle both natural organic matter, such as animal and human remains, and anthropogenic inputs like agricultural plastics. This work contributes to solutions for waste disposal, environmental bioremediation, and predicting ecosystem responses to disturbances. Current projects encompass the microbial dynamics of animal decomposition and nutrient recycling, the effects of biodegradable and conventional microplastics on soil ecology and health, and the impacts of agricultural management practices—including reduced tillage, cover cropping, native forage grasses, and genetically engineered crops—on soil microbial communities and their functions.