Claire Willing’s research focuses on soil-dwelling fungal communities that influence how forests recover after wildfire. In dry, low-elevation Ponderosa pine forests of eastern Washington, these tiny organisms appear to play a key role in determining which plants grow, where tree seedlings survive, and how plants compete. Through a better understanding of how these fungal communities respond to environmental stress, Claire’s aim is to create microbially informed management strategies to promote ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.

This project builds on ongoing work with the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, where her lab has studied microbial responses to fires of different intensities and histories. The research will connect these microbial changes to seedling growth and competition, producing practical guidance for land managers and Tribal partners on replanting strategies, prescribed fire planning, and supporting forest resilience. By linking soil fungi to forest recovery, this work helps ensure that forests continue to provide ecological, cultural and economic benefits for the Pacific Northwest.