EDUCATION

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY (August 2011-Present)
PhD in Soil Science GPA 3.70/4.0
Tentative Thesis: Development of an Infiltration Index for Land Use Decision Support in Urbanizing Regions
Comprehensive Exams in Soil Physics, Soil Morphology, and Geospatial Statistics

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY , MANHATTAN, KS (August 2009-May 2011)
Masters of Science in Agronomy (Soil Fertility) GPA 3.76/4.0,
Thesis Title “Managing Iron Chlorosis in Western Kansas”

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN -RIVER FALLS (UWRF) , RIVER FALLS, WI (August 2004-May 2009)
Bachelors of Science in International Studies, Agricultural Emphasis in Major GPA 3.97/4.0
Minor in Soil Science and Spanish
Summa Cum Laude, Cumulative GPA 3.91/4.0

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

• North Carolina State University’s 2013 Outstanding Teaching Assistant
• One of 50 participants selected (out of 700 applicants) to Harvard/MIT Communication In Science Workshop
• Awarded 3RD out of 33 in the Soil Fertility Graduate Student Oral Presentation at the 2011 Soil Science Meeting
• Recipient of the $2000 Wilford Gardener Travel Fellowship to attend World Soils Congress in Brisbane, Australia in 2010
• Received 2ND prize in the 2010 Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference Poster Contest
• Awarded the 2010 Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference $750 Travel Award
• Winner of the 2009 Phi Kappa Phi National $5000 Graduate Fellowship
• Recipient of the 2009 UWRF Chancellor’s Award, Highest recognition for excellent service to the campus and community
• First Prize in the 2009 National Undergraduate Research Symposium Contest for the American Society of Agronomy Meeting
• Winner of the 2009 Darrel S. Metcalfe Student Research Manuscript Writing Contest
• Recipient for the 2008 Conference for Undergraduate Research’s “Posters on the Hill” in Washington DC
• Edwin Ted Reed Memorial Scholarship
• Ernst A. Teves International Memorial Scholarship, for outstanding Semester Abroad Europe participant
• Marcel K Lynum Leadership Scholarship, recognition for campus leadership initiatives
• Norman L. Christianson Memorial Scholarship, for an excellent student in the College of Agriculture
• University of Wisconsin – River Falls Honors Program Graduate
• American Society of Agronomy Golden Opportunity Scholar in 2008

PUBLICATIONS

Szulczewski, M., Liesch, A.M.,  Havlin, J.L. Soils and Society. 2013. In Lindbo, D., Koslowski, D., and C. Robinson. Know Soil Know Life. ACS Press.

Liesch, A.M., Ruiz Diaz, D.A., Mengel, D., and Roozeboom, K. 2012. Interpreting relationships between soil variables and soybean
iron deficiency using factor analysis. Accepted, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.

Liesch, A.M., Ruiz Diaz, D.A., Mengel, D., Roozeboom, K., and Martin, K. 2011. Management strategies for increasing soybean
yield on soils susceptible to iron deficiency. Agron. J. 103:1870-1877.

Liesch, A.M., Ochsner, T.E., and Krueger, E. Effects of a rye double cropping system on soil structure and physical properties in a
corn silage production system. Soil Science Society of America Journal. Vol. 75 No. 4, p. 1307-1314.

Liesch A.M., Weyers, S.L., Gaskin, J.W., and Das, K.C. 2010. Impact of two different biochars on earthworm growth and survival.
Annals of Environmental Science. 4: 1-9.

Liesch A.M., Weyers, S.L., Gaskin, J.W., and Das, K.C. 2010. The effects of two different biochars on earthworm survival and
microbial carbon levels. In: Gilkes, R.J and N. Prakongkep (eds.) Proceeding of 19th World Congress of Soil Science: Soil
solutions for a changing world. August 1-6, 2010, Brisbane, Australia.

Liesch, A.M. 2010. Wastewater Phosphorus Removal by Two Different Types of Andesitic Volcanic Tephra. J. Nat. Resour. Life Sci.
Educ. 38.

GRANTS AND FUNDING

Liesch, A.M. Citizen Science Series: Agronomy. Reinvest the American Society of Agronomy 2013-2015. $10,000.

Amoozegar, A., Heitman, J.L., Lindbo, D.L., Austin, R.E., and Liesch, A.M. Development of an Infiltration Index for
Land Use Decision Support in Urbanizing Regions. National Resource Conservation Service. 2012-2014. $40,000.

Liesch, A.M., Dolliver, H. The Impact of Two Different Biochars on Earthworm Dynamics. University of Wisconsin River Falls Foundation Summer Research Grant. 2008. $2500.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA (2011-Present)
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Josh Heitman and Dr. Aziz Amoozegar

• Developed an infiltration index of southern piedmont soils in relation to soil physical properties
• Set up a laboratory column with heat pulse probes to verify soil moisture in a laboratory column
• Used topographic change and geospatial analysis to generate a GIS map for Wake County

GHENT UNIVERSITY: FACILITY OF BIOSCIENCE ENGINEERING, GENT, BELGIUM (2011)
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Stefaan De Neve and Dr. Wim Cornelius

• Tested biological vs. chemical oxidation in measuring Cation Exchange Capacity under 15 different biochars
• Simulated rainfall on different soil textures to determine connection between overland and subsurface water flow

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY: DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY, MANHATTAN, KS (2009-2011)
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Dorivar Ruiz Diaz

• Assessed the extent of soybean chlorosis in four different sites around the state of Kansas
• Determined if two different foliar iron applications and two different seed treatments effected soybean cholorosis
• Varied seed treatment to find the best economic application rate

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY: SOIL AND PLANT SCIENCE GROUP, STILLWATER, OK 2009
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Tyson Ochsner

• Used pedotransfer function models to find soil hydraulic properties based on soil texture
• Measured soil thermal conductivity in soil cores from around the state of Oklahoma (led to procedures for a masters degree by Bethany Scott)

MASSEY UNIVERSITY: SOIL AND EARTH SCIENCE GROUP, PALMERSTON NORTH, NEW ZEALAND 2008-2009
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Mike Hedley and James Hanley

• Quantified “Wastewater Phosphorus Removal by Two Different Types of Andesitic Volcanic Tephra” for eventual
  use as a P removal unit in small town wastewater treatment systems

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RESEARCH SERVICES, MORRIS, MN 2008-2011
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Sharon Lachnicht Weyers

• Ran a toxicity study comparing two different types of five different levels of biochar on earthworms in an artificial
  soil and measured soil pH and moisture content
• Tested two different field soils and two types of char on survival rate, changes in microbial biomass, total carbon
  and nitrogen levels over a month long incubation period
• Extracted carbon gas emissions on a weekly basis, and used a Gas Chromatograph to analyze five proposed
  application rates with and without the activity of worms

ST. CROIX INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY, RIVER FALLS, WI 2008-2010
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Kelly Cain

• Obtained soil data, land classifications, and yield potential of the soil series in Wisconsin by county
• Researched data on Wisconsin total acres, rental rates and expiration dates of CRP land
• Created a map with ARC GIS of CRP land that is most susceptible to erosion if converted back to production

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RESEARCH SERVICES, ST. PAUL, MN 2007-Present
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Tyson Ochsner

• Designed a soil quality research project: “Assessment of the effects of a rye cover crop on soil structural stability,
  physical quality, and water infiltration” and tested these analyses in different locations of Minnesota for year
• Correlated soil physical compaction readings with a Cone Penetrometer and water infiltration with the Infiltrometer
  with Visual Soil Structural Analysis learned in Scotland, and dry aggregate distribution to study the effects of a rye
  cover crop and corn crop on soil structure, drainage, and compaction over a one year period

SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE:CROP AND SOIL SYSTEMS GROUP,EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND 2006-2007
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Bruce Ball

• Compared Visual Soil Structural Analysis to Vane Shear Strength Analysis to quantify strength of correlation
  between physical and visual measurements
• Measured dry aggregate distribution and moisture content for correlation to visual analysis.
•  Gathered and processed data comparing the soil visual quality and compaction of tillage and organic matter
  treatments

RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

Oral Presentations

Liesch, A,M. “Soils and Creative Expression: A Citizen Science Program in Soil Science: Advocacy and Leadership Development Through Targeted Research Mentorship and Service Learning”. Soil Science Society of America Meeting, Tampa, FL. November 2013.

Liesch, A.M., Ruiz Diaz, Mengel, D, and Roozeboom, K. “Interpreting Soybean Iron Chlorosis In the Soil Using Factor Analysis and Multiple Regression.” Soil Science of America Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX. October 2011.

Liesch, A.M., Ruiz Diaz, D.A., Mengel, D, Roozeboom, K., and Marten, K. “Management Strategies for Soybeans in Western Kansas”. Soil Science of America Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA. November 2010.

Liesch, A.M., Ruiz Diaz, D.A. and Marten, K. “Management Strategies for Chlorotic Soybeans in Western KS” Kansas Southwest Research and Extension Center Field Day, Garden City, KS. August 2010.

Liesch, A.M., and Ochsner, T.E. “Does a Rye Cover Crop Remediate Soil Physical Degradation?” Plant Water Relations, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. February 2010

Liesch, A.M., and Ochsner, T. E. “Does a Rye Cover Crop Improve the Soil Physical Environment?” Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. January 2009

Liesch, A.M. “Groundwater Drawdown on the North China Plain: Historical and Case Study Analysis” International Studies Senior Seminar, River Falls, Wisconsin. November 2007

Poster Presentations

Liesch, A.M., Heitman, J., Amoozegar, A., and Hesterberg, D. “Measuring Specific Surface Area” Soil Science Society of America Meeting, Cincinnati, OH., November, 2012.

Liesch, A.M., Lachnicht Weyers, S.L., Gaskin, J., and Das, K.C. “The effects of two different biochars on earthworm survival
and microbial carbon levels.” World Soils Congress. Brisbane, Australia. August 2, 2010.

Liesch, A.M., Ruiz Diaz, D.A., and Marten, K. “Iron Chlorosis in Western Kansas”. Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference. Denver, CO. March 3, 2010.

Liesch, A.M., and Ochsner, T.E. “Does a rye cover crop effect soil physical structure?”

• Soil Science Society of America Annual Meetings, Pittsburgh PN. November, 2009
• UWRF Local Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities Day. River Falls, WI. April 22, 2009
• National Conference for Undergraduate Research, La Crosse, WI. April 2009

Liesch, A.M., and Lachnicht Weyers, S.L. “The relationship between biochar and earthworms: toxicity, carbon sequestration, and carbon dioxide emissions.”

• Wisconsin Research Posters in the Rotunda. Madison, WI, April 23, 2009
• UWRF Local Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities Day. River Falls, WI. April 22, 2009
• UWRF November Research Gala. River Falls, WI, November 10, 2008
• UWRF 60th Anniversary Foundation Dinner. River Falls, WI. September 17, 2008

Liesch, A.M., and Ball, B.C. “Visual soil structure, vane shear strengths and dry aggregate distribution in three different organic matter treatments.”

• Posters on the Hill- Council on Undergraduate Research Presentations. Washington DC. April 29, 2008
• Wisconsin Systems State Symposium. River Falls, WI. April 25, 2008
• UWRF Local Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities Day. River Falls, WI. April 22, 2008
• National Conference for Undergraduate Research, Salisbury Maryland. April 2008
•  Wisconsin Research Posters in the Rotunda. Madison, WI, March 5, 2008
•  UWRF November Research Gala. River Falls, WI, November 11, 2007

 STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE

BIOENERGY STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM SEMESTER, GHENT, BELGIUM SPRING 2011

INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIP, PALMERSTON NORTH, NEW ZEALAND FALL 2008
Project Advisor: Dr. William Anderson

PACIFIC DISCOVERY: SOUTH EAST ASIA, THAILAND, LAOS, VIETNAM, AND CAMBODIA FALL 2008

WISCONSIN IN SCOTLAND, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND SPRING 2007

SEMESTER ABROAD EUROPE PROGRAM, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND FALL 2006
Project Advisor: Dr. William Anderson