Welcome to my personal website
News
05/13/2021: NC State soil judging team placed 5th in group judging and had the #1 individual in soil feature identification at the first ever VIRTUAL contest held this spring. Read more here: https://cals.ncsu.edu/crop-and-soil-sciences/news/soil-judging-team-places-5th-in-2021-national-competition/
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01/19/2021: New presentations and posters on coastal zone research posted for the Soil Science Society of North Carolina's annual meeting. See below:
Ricker, Taylor, Gorczynski (talk) Paired subaerial and subaqueous approaches to understand the impacts of sea level rise on coastal Histosols Gorczynski and others (poster) Quantification of Histosol Blue Carbon Stocks along a Salinity Gradient in the Southeastern United States Jordan and others (poster) Using GIS to Evaluate Coastal Septic System Vulnerability in North Carolina |
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12/03/2020: Congratulations to Shannon Bradley on successfully defending her M.S. thesis entitled "Ecosystem Services Provided by Alluvial Soils Across an Urban to Rural Gradient.". Shannon will be starting work for Land Management Group as an Environmental Staff Scientist (soil focus).
11/13/2020: Congratulations to Shannon Bradley on being selected 1st place student oral presentation for ASA CSSA SSSA 2020 Virtual meeting: Pedology Division. Her talk was entitled "Separating Hydric Components from Piedmont Floodplain Map Units for Improved Land-Use Planning in North Carolina".
10/02/2020: New funded M.S. assistantship available in the area of soil blue carbon in tidal marshes of North Carolina. Start date January or May, 2020. Details below.
| ms_position__bluecarbon_2020.pdf |
08/03/2020: New funded Ph.D. assistantship available in the area of soil carbon/health in response to organic farm management. Start date January or May, 2020. Details below.
Update, this position has been filled as of 01/01/2021.
Update, this position has been filled as of 01/01/2021.
05/19/2020: Shannon Bradley and myself presented research posters and lightning talks (virtually) at the 2020 National Cooperative Soil Survey South Regional Meeting hosted by the University of Arkansas.
03/13/2020: COVID-19 has officially ended in person classes this semester. The 2020 national soil judging contest was also cancelled. Stay safe and healthy everyone!
03/12/2020: Congrats to Shannon Bradley on being selected as the recipient of the 2019 William W. Stevens Award for meritorious scholarship in soil science!
02/15/2020: New "Soils Matter" blog post about alluvial soils (written by me) posted by the Soil Science Society of America: https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2020/02/15/what-are-alluvial-soils/
01/22/2020: Congrats to Pedology/Land Use Lab graduate student Shannon Bradley for being awarded 1st place overall poster presentation at the 63rd annual Soil Science Society of North Carolina Meeting!
10/30/2019: New peer-reviewed research article out in Soil Science Society of America Journal!
Ricker, M.C., M.H. Stolt, and M.S. Zavada. 2019. Pollen Preservation in Alluvial Soils: Implications for Paleoecology and Land Use Studies. SSSAJ 83:1595-1600. Link.
Featured on the home page of SSSA as well:
https://www.soils.org/discover-soils/story/preserved-pollen-tells-the-history-of-floodplains
Ricker, M.C., M.H. Stolt, and M.S. Zavada. 2019. Pollen Preservation in Alluvial Soils: Implications for Paleoecology and Land Use Studies. SSSAJ 83:1595-1600. Link.
Featured on the home page of SSSA as well:
https://www.soils.org/discover-soils/story/preserved-pollen-tells-the-history-of-floodplains
10/11/2019: The NC State University Soil Judging Team placed 3rd overall the the SE Regional contest hosted by VA Tech. Three students placed in the top 10 of 79 participants: Betsy Murphy (8th), Curtis Murphy (3rd), and Heath Clapp (2nd). The team has qualified for nationals to be hosted by THE Ohio State University in spring 2020. This is the first time since 2004 NCSU has qualified for back-to-back national contests, congrats to the team.
09/20/2019: Our lab has received a new USDA-NRCS research grant to quantify Coastal Zone Blue Carbon, we currently are looking for an M.S. student to work on the project. Overview can be found here: Link.
08/29/2019: New peer-reviewed research article out in Estudios de Cultura Maya!
Marken, D.B., M.C. Ricker, A. Rivas, and E. Maxson. 2019. Low Density Urbanism in the Maya Lowlands: The Case of El Perú-Waka ', Petén, Guatemala. Estudios de Cultura Maya. Link.
Marken, D.B., M.C. Ricker, A. Rivas, and E. Maxson. 2019. Low Density Urbanism in the Maya Lowlands: The Case of El Perú-Waka ', Petén, Guatemala. Estudios de Cultura Maya. Link.
08/01/2019: BESST REU student Sophie Maffie presented her preliminary findings at the NC State Undergraduate Research Symposium. She will present the final results of her research this fall at the SSSA annual meetings in San Antonio, TX!
07/30/2019: 250+ high school students from the top Envirothon teams representing every U.S. state plus Canada and China competed in the 2019 Envirothon at NC State University. Our lab provided training and oversaw the field portion of the Soils and Land Use testing. Congratulations to the Virginia team for winning the overall contest and New York for the high score on the Soils and Land Use section.
The slope/soil field portion included a spacious soil pit for sample collection.
05/01/2019: New peer-reviewed research article out in Wetlands!
Ricker, M.C., G.D. Blosser, W.H. Conner, and B.G. Lockaby. 2019. Wood biomass and carbon pools within a floodplain forest of the Congaree River, South Carolina, USA. Wetlands.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13157-019-01150-1
Ricker, M.C., G.D. Blosser, W.H. Conner, and B.G. Lockaby. 2019. Wood biomass and carbon pools within a floodplain forest of the Congaree River, South Carolina, USA. Wetlands.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13157-019-01150-1
04/19/2019: The NCSU Soil Judging Team placed 4th overall in the 2019 National Soil Judging Contest hosted by California Polytechnical University in San Luis Obispo. Curtis Murphy placed 6th overall individual and NCSU was 8th overall in group judging. This is the highest national ranking for the NCSU Soil Judging Team since 2001, congratulations!
NC State 2019 National Soil Judging Team (L to R): Betsy Murphy, Reuben Wilson, Kurt Wedegaertner, Curtis Murphy (6th place), and M. Ricker (coach).
10/19/2018: The NCSU Soil Judging Team placed 3rd overall in the SE Regional Soil Judging Contest hosted by Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. Two students placed in the top 10 of 79 participants: Betsy Murphy (8th place) and Curtis Murphy (4th place). The team has qualified for the 2019 national contest at CalPoly - San Luis Obispo!
NC State 2018 Soil Judging Team (L to R): Reuben Wilson, Betsy Murphy (8th place), Kurt Wedegaertner, Curtis Murphy (4th place), Jeremy McAdams, Avery Payne
05/01/2018: I have officially accepted a job as a tenure track Assistant Professor of Pedology and Land Use at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. My appointment starts in August.
04/22/2018: Congratulations to former soil judger Nate Shapiro on getting a job as a Geotechnical Specialist at Advantage Engineers in Allentown, PA!
04/14/2018: On Saturday April 14th, Bloomsburg University EGGS Department showed three Ridge and Valley soils to 22 participants from Bloomsburg, PennState, West Chester University, Delaware Valley University, USDA-NRCS, and PA-DEP. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the tour of our little area of the world. Photo here is looking south from Bloomsburg, PA towards the Susquehanna River valley and Catawissa Mountain in the distance. Somewhat hazy, but you can see 30+ miles from this area. #PASoilJudging
04/08/2018: Congratulations to former lab member and Bloom soil judger Dan Steinhauser on getting a job as a Field Technician with the Maryland Dept. of Agriculture - Forest Pest Management Division!
03/22/2018: Congratulations to former lab member Ryan Cherwinski on getting a job as an Agricultural Conservation Technician at the Northumberland County Conservation District in PA!
10/16/2017: The Bloomsburg University soil judging team placed 5th overall in the 2017 Northeast Region Collegiate Soil Judging Competition hosted by the University of Rhode Island. Two students placed in the top 10 of 50 participants: Dan Steinhauser (8th) and Shannon Bradley (7th).
2017 Bloomsburg Regional Soil Judging Team. Back row (L to R): Autumn Helfrich, Shannon Bradley, Nate Shapiro, Mike Antal In front: Rain Escovedo, Melissa Joseph, Dan Steinhauser, Josh Prezkop.
09/22/2017: News story from WBRE (NBC) on our archaeology-soils project. Link.
09/16/2017: News story from FOX56 on our collaborative archaeology-soils project at El-Peru-Waka' Guatemala.
Link.
Link.
09/04/2017: Congratulations to lab alumni and Bloom soil judger Ryan Sullivan on getting a job as a Geoscientist at AKT Peerless in Michigan!
08/27/2017: Our National Geographic Society proposal was recently funded for the 2018 summer field season at El Peru-Waka'.
Living with water: Classic Maya pond management at El Perú-Waka', Petén, Guatemala. National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration Grant #HJ-100R-17. Co-PI: D.B. Marken, M.C. Ricker, J.C. Pérez, A. Rivas, D.A. Freidel ($25,300).
Living with water: Classic Maya pond management at El Perú-Waka', Petén, Guatemala. National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration Grant #HJ-100R-17. Co-PI: D.B. Marken, M.C. Ricker, J.C. Pérez, A. Rivas, D.A. Freidel ($25,300).
El Peru-Waka' City Core, 2017. Map by D.B. Marken.
08/25/2017: Thank you to all the participants that attended the 2017 Soil Health Field Day at Artman Farms in Berwick, PA. Special thanks to the Columbia County Conservation District and USDA-NRCS District Conservationist Kris Ribble for organizing the event as well as Pennsylvania State Soil Scientist Joe Kraft for his assistance in the field.
04/28/2017: Congratulations to the Bloomsburg University Soil Judging Team on competing in the 57th annual national contest hosted by Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. The team placed 5th overall in group judging and 13th overall in the nation.
2017 Bloomsburg National Soil Judging Team. Back row (L to R): M.C. Ricker (coach), Ryan Sullivan, Alana O'Rourke. In front: Josh Prezkop, Dan Steinhauser, Eric Franz, Morgan Sandritter.
11/12/2016: Congratulations to lab members Josh Prezkop and Sabrina Savidge on winning the undergraduate poster competition at the 11th Annual Susquehanna River Symposium hosted by Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA.
10/07/2016: The Bloomsburg University soil judging team won first place overall in the 2016 Northeast Region Collegiate Soil Judging Competition hosted by Penn State University. Four students placed in the top 10 of 84 participants: Ryan Sullivan (10th), Dan Steinhauser (8th), Josh Prezkop (7th), and Eric Franz (2nd). The team has qualified for national competition at Northern Illinois University April 23-28.
http://bloomsburgu.tumblr.com/post/152393642752/a-team-of-students-from-bloomsburg-university
http://bloomsburgu.tumblr.com/post/152393642752/a-team-of-students-from-bloomsburg-university
2016 Bloomsburg Regional Soil Judging Team. Back row (L to R): Morgan Sandritter, Jason Broadt, Dan Steinhauser, Alana O'Rourke, Eric Franz. In front: Ryan Sullivan, Josh Prezkop.
07/27/2016: Summer 2016 lab member and Bloomsburg URSCA student, Dan Steinhauser won the student competition in Natural Sciences and Engineering with his poster presentation at the 6th Annual Susquehanna Valley Undergraduate Research Symposium. Congratulations Dan!
05/07/2016: New co-authored manuscript published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research:
Odhiambo, B.K., M.C. Ricker, *L.M. Le Blanc, and *K.A. Moxey. 2016. Effects of forested floodplain soil properties on phosphorous concentrations in two Chesapeake Bay sub-watersheds, Virginia, USA. Environmental Science and Pollution Research DOI:10.1007/s11356-016-6668-3. Link.
Odhiambo, B.K., M.C. Ricker, *L.M. Le Blanc, and *K.A. Moxey. 2016. Effects of forested floodplain soil properties on phosphorous concentrations in two Chesapeake Bay sub-watersheds, Virginia, USA. Environmental Science and Pollution Research DOI:10.1007/s11356-016-6668-3. Link.
03/03/2016: New manuscript published in Biogeochemistry:
Ricker, M.C., B.G. Lockaby, G.D. Blosser, and W.H. Conner. 2016. Rapid wood decay and nutrient mineralization in an old-growth bottomland forest. Biogeochemistry 127:323-338. Link.
Ricker, M.C., B.G. Lockaby, G.D. Blosser, and W.H. Conner. 2016. Rapid wood decay and nutrient mineralization in an old-growth bottomland forest. Biogeochemistry 127:323-338. Link.
02/17/2016: Congratulations to lab alumni Dan Tompkins on getting a job as a Geoscientist at Advantage Engineers in eastern Pennsylvania.
12/5/2015: New co-authored manuscript published in Urban Ecosystems:
Brodbeck, A.B., J. LeCompte, A.L. Meder, M.C. Ricker, M. Wedge, H. Schurman, and C.J. Anderson. 2015. Evaluating a campus nitrogen-budget for Auburn University, Alabama, USA. Urban Ecosystems 18:1187-1211. Link.
Brodbeck, A.B., J. LeCompte, A.L. Meder, M.C. Ricker, M. Wedge, H. Schurman, and C.J. Anderson. 2015. Evaluating a campus nitrogen-budget for Auburn University, Alabama, USA. Urban Ecosystems 18:1187-1211. Link.
6/9/2015: Congratulations to lab alumni Brett Diehl on getting a job as an Environmental Geoscientist at Golder Associates in Virginia.
3/23/2015: New manuscript published in Wetlands:
Ricker, M.C. and B.G. Lockaby. 2015. Soil organic carbon stocks in a large eutrophic floodplain forest of the southeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA. Wetlands 35:291–301. Link.
Ricker, M.C. and B.G. Lockaby. 2015. Soil organic carbon stocks in a large eutrophic floodplain forest of the southeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA. Wetlands 35:291–301. Link.
11/15/2014: Two recent manuscripts published in the Soil Science Society of America Journal:
Ricker, M.C. and B.G. Lockaby. 2014. Soil biogeochemical processes across a lateral toposequence in an old-growth floodplain forest. Soil Science Society of America Journal 78:2100-2111. Link.
Ricker, M.C., M.H. Stolt, and M.S. Zavada. 2014. Comparison of soil organic carbon dynamics in forested riparian wetlands and adjacent uplands. Soil Science Society of America Journal 78:1817-1827. Link.
Ricker, M.C. and B.G. Lockaby. 2014. Soil biogeochemical processes across a lateral toposequence in an old-growth floodplain forest. Soil Science Society of America Journal 78:2100-2111. Link.
Ricker, M.C., M.H. Stolt, and M.S. Zavada. 2014. Comparison of soil organic carbon dynamics in forested riparian wetlands and adjacent uplands. Soil Science Society of America Journal 78:1817-1827. Link.
05/12/2014: I have officially accepted a job as a tenure track soil scientist at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. My appointment starts in August.
01/31/2014: New co-authored manuscript published:
Clark, E.V., B.K. Odhiambo, and M.C. Ricker. 2014. Comparative analysis of metal concentrations and sediment chronologies from two Virginia reservoirs, USA: Lakes Moomaw and Pelham. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 225:1860. Link.
Clark, E.V., B.K. Odhiambo, and M.C. Ricker. 2014. Comparative analysis of metal concentrations and sediment chronologies from two Virginia reservoirs, USA: Lakes Moomaw and Pelham. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 225:1860. Link.
01/23/2014: Fired up the new website today. Look for periodic updates in the future.
