David is a molecular biologist conducting research at the New Mexico State University Institute for Sustainable Agricultural Research (ISAR) in Las Cruces, NM. He also facilitates pilot project development and student research in fields ranging from: bio-hydrogen generation, water desalination processes of reverse-osmosis and electro-dialysis reversal, algal bio-fuels, algae production, and advance oxidation processes for water clean-up at super-fund sites.

David’s current research investigates the interactions between plants and soil microbial communities for improving plant growth and soil fertility. Optimization of these plant-microbe associations has demonstrated: faster crop growth, improved plant water use efficiencies, increased microbial carbon-use efficiencies and reduced respiration of CO 2 from soils leading to quicker soil carbon build-up. These benefits provide a path to begin regenerating soil health and fertility while also significantly reducing greenhouse gases and developing soil carbon as a viable, marketable agricultural commodity within a sustainable agricultural system.

As Director of ISAR, David works with local growers, Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, Texas A&M, Arizona State University, California State University Chico, University of California Davis, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Thornburg Foundation exploring paths to improve food security, reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, and increase farm and rangeland productivity and profitability.