He received his B.S. from Syracuse University, M.A from SUNY-Buffalo and Ph.D. from Syracuse University. Hamilton's current research focuses on the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on plant-microbial interactions in two systems: 1) Yellowstone National Park and 2) local agricultural systems. His work has been published in Ecology, Oecologia, Plant Physiology, Soil, Biology and Biochemistry, Functional Plant Biology, and The Journal of Integrative Plant Biology. Hamilton currently serves as the chair of the University Sustainability Committee and was integral in the formation of a campus garden which provides organic herbs and produce to the University and local low-income community members.