The discovery of antibiotic compounds is one of the most prolific scientific advances in history. Yet, our growing use of antibiotics is leading to unprecedented introductions of these compounds into our environment, the effects of which are under studied. At The University of Idaho, Dr. Lucas explores how naturally occurring and anthropogenically introduced antibiotics shape our soil ecosystems and the functions they perform and how they influence antibiotic resistance in the environment.

Dr. Lucas is a post-doctoral associate at The University of Idaho researching the factors that influence the invertebrate and microbial communities within the leaf litter and soil in agricultural and tropical ecosystems. Her team collaborates with a variety of individuals, including professors, scientists and farmers, to help create sustainable practices that maintain our soil and public health.