Dr. Stephanie Murphy has been at Rutgers University since 1992, following a thorough education in
agronomy and soil science: Bachelor of Science (Agronomy) from The Ohio State University, Master of

Science (Soil Management and Conservation) from Purdue University, including research at the USDA-
Agricultural Research Service's Soil Erosion Laboratory, and Ph.D. from Michigan State University (Soil

Biophysics, i.e. soil/root interactions). Early work at Rutgers included post-doctoral research in the soil
microbiology lab (Department of Environmental Sciences). Teaching undergraduate soils courses (Soils
and Water, Physical Properties of Soils) followed, and responsibilities at the Soil Testing Laboratory were
added in the mid-1990’s, which provided valuable experience in the soil chemistry/fertility field. Dr.
Murphy is currently Director of the Rutgers/NJAES Soil Testing Laboratory with a Cooperative Extension
appointment, and she teaches the undergraduate course ""Soils and Society"" for the Department of Plant
Biology. She has served as the Cook College/School of Environmental and Biological Sciences' Executive
Dean’s representative to the NJ Department of Agriculture’s State Soil Conservation Committee for
many years (and a good number of deans). Dr. Murphy is a member of the American Society of
Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America, and the Soil & Water Conservation Society, and has been
involved with the Soil Health Institute efforts to promote research and implementation of practices that
improve natural functions of soil in our environment.