Dr. Kathleen Groppe

Dr. Kathleen Groppe is a molecular ecologist, regenerative rancher, and educator whose work bridges soil biology, ecology, and agricultural systems. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Ecology from the Universität Basel in Switzerland and earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she conducted research on the genes involved in avocado ripening.Kathleen grew up on a small avocado ranch near San Diego, California where she raised a pig for Future Farmers of America (FFA). Her father was an ornithologist (who spent his career restoring the peregrine falcon, an endangered species, to the wild), her step-father was an entomologist (who studied the evolution of the tsetse fly over continents), and her mother was, and is, a master gardener and long-time volunteer at the San Diego Museum of Natural History.  Kathleen’s scientific background includes research in molecular biology, medical diagnostics, and microbial ecology. Over time, her interests shifted increasingly toward soil ecology, plant–microbe interactions, ecosystem restoration, and regenerative land management.Dr. Groppe currently owns and manages a 77-acre regenerative cattle ranch in North Texas that has undergone extensive prairie and wetland restoration. Her work on the ranch has included observational and applied studies examining soil structure, biodiversity, hydrology, and the effects of management practices on ecological recovery and resilienceIn addition to her scientific and agricultural work, Dr. Groppe was a homeschool teacher for 13 years, and is a longtime artisan jeweler and small business owner whose work reflects a deep connection to natural systems and landscape.