Bryant Scharenbroch, a professor of soil and waste resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | University of Wisconsin - Steven's Point
Bryant Scharenbroch, a professor of soil and waste resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | University of Wisconsin - Steven's Point
Bryant Scharenbroch, a professor of soil and waste resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), has been named the recipient of the 2025 University Scholar Award. The award recognizes his extensive research in soil science and his commitment to student mentorship.
Scharenbroch leads UWSP’s Pedology Laboratory, which investigates how human activity affects soil and how soil impacts human life. “Our work looks at how humans influence soil and how soil, in turn, influences human life,” Scharenbroch said. “It’s about understanding our footprint, and the ground beneath it.”
His research covers a wide range of topics including urban soil contamination, ecosystem recovery, stormwater management, and the health of urban trees. In agriculture, he has studied ways to improve soil quality using residuals, developed practices for growing hemp in Wisconsin, and explored the use of hemp and alfalfa for phytoremediation. His forest ecosystem studies include analyzing soil responses to fire and using advanced sensors to study Midwestern forests. He has also researched prairie restoration techniques and wetland identification methods.
Scharenbroch is also the lead scientist at the Wisconsin Soil Health (WISH) Laboratory, which provides soil health testing services to farmers, conservation groups, and citizens across Wisconsin. The lab offers hands-on learning opportunities for students who gain experience interpreting real-world data.
Since joining UWSP, Scharenbroch has secured nearly $2 million in research funding. He has published 27 peer-reviewed papers, contributed to five books, written industry reports and book chapters, and presented at more than 80 scientific conferences. His work has been cited over 3,300 times in academic literature.
Colleagues note that Scharenbroch’s dedication to mentoring students is a defining feature of his career. Luke Scheberl from Mid-State Technical College described Scharenbroch’s approach: “I can personally attest to Bryant’s exceptional mentoring skills, which I consider one of his most important scholarly contributions,” Scheberl said. “As his advisee, we had weekly meetings and regular contact throughout the week. Only later did I realize how rare that was. Many graduate students barely see their advisors. Bryant’s level of commitment is exceptional.”
Over nine years at UWSP, Scharenbroch has advised six graduate students directly, served on six additional graduate committees, and mentored more than 60 undergraduates whose work led to dozens of conference presentations.
Brian Sloss, dean of the College of Natural Resources at UWSP said: “Dr. Scharenbroch exemplifies what it means to be a scholar,” Brian Sloss shared. “His commitment to scientific discovery, community engagement, and student development embodies the highest ideals of this award. His work isn’t just published, it is lived, shared, and applied.”
Scharenbroch says his focus remains on making science useful for people: Science should serve people. Students deserve time. And every great future starts with understanding what lies just beneath our feet.
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