South SFV Today

Stanford biologist Kabir Peay is exploring the hidden world of fungi, focusing on their vital role in plant and forest health. Peay, who leads the Earth Systems Program and serves as an associate professor at Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, emphasizes the importance of fungal networks in supporting ecosystems and agriculture amid climate change.

“If you were to walk around a forest, the ground beneath is teeming with life,” said Peay. His research centers on mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic relationships with plants by colonizing their roots. “Plants – almost all of them, almost all of the time – are involved in this ancient partnership,” he explained.

Peay's fascination with fungi began during his PhD studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He noted that his interest shifted from plants to fungi due to their intriguing nature. “The more I learned about fungi, I realized they were of more interest to me than the plants they were interacting with,” he stated.

For over two decades, Peay has conducted research at Point Reyes National Seashore to study microbial communities post-fire. His work contributes to a broader ecological understanding that cooperation is as crucial as competition in nature. “We’re seeing how ubiquitous these positive interactions are and recognizing that nature works as much through cooperation as it does through antagonism,” said Peay.

In his lab, Peay collaborates with graduate students and researchers using field observations and genetic sequencing to study fungal diversity and its impact on plant health. This approach aims to predict how environmental changes will affect ecosystems.

The Earth Systems Program under Peay’s leadership focuses on interdisciplinary systems thinking for sustainability challenges. His lab combines genetic research with practical field tests to apply scientific findings effectively.

Biology PhD student Karrin Tennant is investigating whether transplanting aspen trees and microbes can enhance survival rates in different environments. Another student, Jay Yeam, studies genetic adaptation in mycorrhizal fungi concerning climate change impacts.

With support from Stanford’s Sustainability Accelerator and collaboration with Professor Rob Jackson, Peay examines old-growth forests' fungal communities for carbon storage insights. He also partners with bioengineers to develop tools for genetically modifying fungi through a project funded by the Woods Institute for the Environment.

Advancements in microbiology have enabled significant progress in this field. Reflecting on his early career challenges, Peay remarked: “When I got into the field, there was this global question of what do these fungal communities look like from place to place.”

Despite potential setbacks inherent in scientific research, Peay remains optimistic about future breakthroughs: “Some of our attempts are not going to work – there will be a lot of failure, but that’s how science works.”

Kabir Peay is also affiliated with the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment as a senior fellow.

For media inquiries: Josie Garthwaite at Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability can be contacted via (650) 497-0947 or josieg@stanford.edu.