ELCOME to the Darrouzet-Nardi Lab homepage! I am an associate professor at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in the Biological Sciences department, and part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program (EEB).

Last updated Sep 1, 2025

GRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES: I am now recruiting a Ph.D. student for Fall 2026 to join our work on biological soil crusts (biocrusts) and dryland ecosystems. This position is funded through the NSF-sponsored CrustNet project, an international collaboration linking researchers across more than 20 countries. Students in my lab gain hands-on experience with advanced soil and plant instrumentation (e.g., soil sensors, isotopes, gas exchange systems, soil chemical analysis, cutting edge omics techniques, and much more), fieldwork in desert and mountain ecosystems, and collaborations that open doors to global research careers. See here for my prospective student page.

Biocrusts!

ABOUT THE LAB: My group studies how soils regulate ecosystem processes, focusing on carbon, nutrients, and water in drylands. A consistent theme is filling in the belowground side of the story—how microbial communities, plants, and soil chemistry interact to drive ecosystem function. We use a range of approaches, from isotopes and plant physiology to large-scale field experiments, often with an applied angle related to climate change, land use, or restoration. Students who join the lab find both independence and strong mentorship, and past graduates have gone on to research, teaching, and conservation careers.

Collecting critical zone cores in the pecan orchard

CURRENT WORK: Our lab’s newest focus is CrustNet, a global effort to understand the biodiversity, functional traits, and ecosystem roles of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) across drylands. Earlier efforts included an NSF-funded test of the fungal loop hypothesis and our role in the Dryland Critical Zone project investigating carbon, water, and nutrient cycling. These provide the foundation for our current and future focus on dryland soil biogeochemistry and global change. Read more about ongoing projects here.

MORE INFO: Please check out my Google Scholar Page, and CV to learn more about my research interests.

Solar eclipse crescents on my shirt!