Joann K. Whalen is a Full Professor at McGill University where she holds a James McGill Professor research chair in soil science. She is an Affiliate Professor in the Chair of Soil Science at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco. She is a professional agronomist (agronome) in Quebec, Canada and advises Canadian government ministries on soil health issues. Joann is President of the American Society of Agronomy, the first international scientist outside the United States to be elected to this position.

Joann’s research focuses on soil microbiology and biology, biochemistry and biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in agroecosystems. She has published >250 peer-reviewed scientific publications and supervised/co-supervised >70 students at the M.Sc., Ph.D., and postdoctoral levels. She is an Editor-in-Chief for Soil Biology and Biochemistry and a Subject Editor for PNAS Nexus, published by the National Academy of Science of the United States. Joann is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America and the Canadian Society of Soil Science