Our story
For over 20 years, Francesca has studied how soil organic matter forms and persists in soils, and how these processes can be modified by environmental changes and management. Her work, along with that of several other colleagues around the world, transformed the way we view soil organic matter regeneration. At one point or another, Megan, Michelle, Rebecca, and Sam were all mentored and inspired by Francesca.
We all worked together to develop advanced understanding, methods, and approaches for the study of soil organic matter across different ecosystems, from croplands to grasslands and forests, and from the Arctic to the Tropics, linking soil carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry to soil health and function.
After having researched the wonders of soil organic matter together for many years at Colorado State University, we realized that a new need had emerged which could not be met in a research setting: an analytical facility applying state-of-the-art science-based methods and rigor to enable the adoption of soil organic matter regenerative practices and accurately verify soil carbon sequestration at scale.
That is why we jumped on this new adventure and together founded Cquester Analytics!
Our Team
Francesca Cotrufo
Science Director
Francesca is a Professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University. She is a soil ecologist and biogeochemist, internationally recognized for her work in the field of soil organic matter dynamics. She strives to advance understanding of the mechanisms and drivers of formation and persistence of soil organic matter, and their response to global changes and disturbances. She uses this understanding to improve modeling of soil C-climate feedbacks to inform climate and land use policy and management. She also pursues applied research to innovate and increase throughput of soil carbon and health testing, and to propose soil management practices that regenerate healthy soils and mitigate climate change. Francesca likes to enjoy life, laugh and spend valuable time with family and her many friends and immerse in the beauty of nature in Italy, Colorado and the world.
Samantha Mosier
Executive Director
Samantha is the Cquester Analytics facility director. She is dedicated to finding sustainable land use strategies that can help mitigate climate change by analyzing soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in relation to different management practices. Samantha has designed and implemented several large scale soil sampling campaigns with subsequent laboratory processing and analysis. She has worked with soils from many different systems including agriculture, grasslands, forests, and even the tundra. She can most often be found working in the lab, striving to provide accurate and reliable soils data to better inform sustainable management decisions. Samantha received her BS in Environmental Science from The University of Michigan, her MS in Ecology from Michigan Technological University and her PhD from Colorado State University. After a post-doc at Michigan State University she returned to Fort Collins to join the Cquester team.
Megan Machmuller
Director of Engagement
Megan is a research scientist in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University. Megan has a passion for understanding the fascinating complexity of our natural world and identifying the fundamental ecological and biogeochemical processes that underpin resilient and sustainable ecosystems. Her research, which extends from the arctic tundra to subtropical grasslands, aims to address how climate change and management practices influence plant-microbial interactions, soil health, and carbon sequestration. She thoroughly enjoys working with nonprofits, state and local government, ranchers, and producers to advance holistic and sustainable agricultural policies and programs. Megan received her BS in Biology from Creighton University and PhD in Ecology from the Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia and served as a USDA NIFA postdoctoral fellow prior to her current position at CSU.
Michelle Haddix
Director of Logistics
Michelle got her bachelor's degree in environmental studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her master's degree in ecology at Colorado State University. She is a research associate in the department of soil and crop sciences at Colorado State University studying soil organic matter dynamics. She has been working in soil labs for over 20 years. Her career in soils started while working on a carbon sequestration project in agricultural systems monitoring soil carbon stocks and root biomass. She has continued to work on multiple soil carbon monitoring projects since then in agriculture, rangeland, and forests. She has also developed multiple soil fractionation protocols. She has fractionated soils from across the United States, Europe, and Canada and has trained numerous scholars on soil fractionation techniques.
Rebecca Even
Director of Methodologies
Rebecca is most interested in applied understanding of soil organic matter dynamics to inform sustainable soil management. She became smitten with practical soil-climate solutions while working on a project studying carbon sequestration potential in agroecosystems with deep rooted crops at Colorado State University. She has now worked on many projects, across various ecosystem types, all aiming to identify soil carbon and nitrogen responses to different management practices. She has fractionated highly diverse soils from the entire U.S. and sampled soils across the southeast, midwest, and western U.S., adding to her expertise in certain lab and field methods. She recently received her master's degree in Soil and Crop Sciences. When not in the lab or field, she’s probably up in the alpine or splashing in the river.