When Melissa Burrell (MS ’26, PWS) peered into the microscope and saw roots filled with fungi she felt a mixture of disbelief and elation. After months of trial and error, this breakthrough marked a turning point in her research on degraded soil.
Burrell’s soil recovery strategy could streamline reclamation efforts by helping plants establish faster and grow stronger, especially in degraded mine sites where traditional methods often fail. Her research focuses on using mycorrhizal fungi to restore land to its original condition. Unlike commercially available fungi, which are often not adapted to the local environment, Burrell’s work uses native fungi, allowing plants to thrive in poor soil without the need for compost or synthetic fertilizers. Burrell is developing a protocol for harvesting and applying native fungi to support plant growth and ecosystem restoration in degraded soil.
When Burrell first joined the lab as an undergraduate, she took over a challenging project. Her task was to identify mycorrhizal fungi living in plant roots and explore its potential to aid reclamation efforts. With little usable data, the initial work was difficult. Protocols from past studies were unable to identify the fungi, and Burrell had to experiment to make progress. Her breakthrough discovery helped her identify the right fungi to use in her research.
As a graduate student in wildlife and wildland conservation, Burrell took her research one step further and applied the fungi to plant roots, demonstrating that plants with mycorrhizal fungi on their roots had increased biomass and vigor. Not only did they grow larger, but they also developed more resilient root systems, which is critical for long-term survival in harsh environments. These findings are particularly important for Burrell’s field sites, where the goal is to accelerate ecological succession and restore habitats.
Trusting God
Burrell’s journey into wildlife and wildland conservation was anything but straightforward. After originally aspiring to study business, she found herself drawn to conservation through the peace she felt in natural places. “I feel like I really just trusted God by signing up for the major,” she says. At first, this transition was overwhelming, but after her first year, Burrell confidently felt that this was where she was meant to be. Her experiences during her undergrad led her to pursue a master’s degree and continue her research under the mentorship of Dr. Madsen.
Reflecting on her work, Burrell sees it as more than just a scientific endeavor—it’s also a personal calling to be a steward. Her time in the program has deepened her testimony of God’s creations. “God spent so much time making the earth. The more I learn about it, I realize how complicated it is—and how cool it is that it all works together.”
Burrell’s research has already received recognition, earning second place in the PWS category at the 2024 Life Sciences Research Conference for her findings. Next, she plans to conduct field trials to test the fungi under real-world conditions. These studies will monitor plant growth over the next year.
As she prepares to graduate with her master’s degree, Burrell hopes her work will make an impact on reclamation practices and encourage sustainable approaches to land management. For Burrell, her journey from uncertainty to discovery in conservation has been a testament to the beauty and complexity of nature—and the divine guidance that led her there.