Helen Hayden

Dr Helen L. Hayden is a soil microbial ecologist working within the Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science (ACES) department in the School of Science at RMIT University. Her research interests include soil biology, soil health, soil plant-microbe interactions and plant pathology.

Helen brings an interdisciplinary approach to her research projects. She uses “omics” technologies and molecular biology to examine soil microbial and faunal community responses to different land uses, crops, management practices and climate change in the varied soil types across Australia. Her research has included agricultural, dairy, and horticultural systems as well as native ecosystems. 

Helen is particularly interested in expanding her research activity in natural environments as well as agricultural systems, and developing new linkages within the area of soil-plant microbiome interactions with an emphasis on soilborne disease control through disease suppressive soils and management effects on the soil food web.