Featured Graduate Student
Marcos Gimenez Diaz is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas, working in Dr. Sara Baer’s lab. Marcos is originally from Paraguay, where he obtained a B.S. in Environmental Science. In 2021, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship by the U.S. Department of State to study at The Ohio State University, where he received his M.S. in Environment and Natural Resources. During his undergraduate and graduate studies, Marcos conducted research on the effects of prescribed fires, grazing, and other disturbances on soil chemical and physical properties in rural areas and semi-arid ecosystems with a strong focus on restoration ecology. 
Marcos’s doctoral research focuses on soil carbon accumulation and isotopic signatures in native and restored prairies at Konza Prairie. Specifically, he is investigating how different direct and indirect ecological drivers —such as plant communities, climate, bison grazing, fire frequency, and topography—influence soil carbon in grassland systems.
When not working in the field or lab, Marcos enjoys watching movies, attending concerts, traveling, and reading books, especially fantasy and science fiction. If you would like to reach out to Marcos, his email address is marcosgimenezdiaz@ku.edu.