Prof. Maren Oelbermann

Dr. Oelbermann earned a Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Guelph and pursued post-doctoral studies at Cornell University. Currently, she holds the position of Professor in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Her research revolves around the study of carbon and nitrogen transformations in complex agroecosystems, encompassing a wide range of environments from sub-polar to tropical regions. Specifically, she focuses on understanding the functions and processes that govern these transformations in various agricultural systems, such as agroforestry systems and cereal-legume intercrops. Dr. Oelbermann is actively involved in investigating the effects of biochar and other organic amendments on soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and the resilience of agroecosystems to climate change. To support her research endeavors, she manages a state-of-the-art research laboratory and serves as a mentor to graduate students pursuing their Ph.D. and master’s degrees. Her laboratory serves as a hub for international scholars and graduate students who collaborate on diverse projects. Her research findings are frequently published in esteemed, high impact factor peer-reviewed journals. In addition to her research contributions, Dr. Oelbermann is an Associate Editor for several prominent journals, including the Journal of Environmental Management, Agroforestry Systems, and the Journal of Environmental Quality. She also serves as an Associate Editor for multiple special issues, such as those focused on agroforestry and climate change in Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, biochar in the Canadian Journal of Soil Science and Geoderma Regional. Furthermore, she authored the book “Sustainable Agroecosystems in Climate Change Mitigation,” published by Wageningen Academic. Dr. Oelbermann actively engages with the academic community by participating in scientific committees for conferences and organizing international conference sessions. Moreover, she actively interacts with the agricultural industry, delivering presentations to audiences like Certified Crop Advisors, and she promotes her work through publications in agricultural magazines such as Ontario Farmer, Top Crop Manager, and Better Farming as well as social media, websites and newspapers.

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