Physiology

• Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

I am a plant biologist with a special passion for large organisms - trees!  Trees are ‘large' not merely by their physical or genome size, but primarily by their longevity.  Longevity depends on a perennial growth habit, which can mean added functionalities for genes, proteins and metabolites compared to herbaceous annuals.  The quest for 'what makes a tree a tree' has led to various projects ranging from gene family evolution and functional diversification, to transgenic manipulation of traits important to growth and development.  Needless to say, our research has industrial relevance due

Forest Engineer with more than 20 years experience working with the Industry in South America, leading research groups in Forest Silviculture, Management, Modeling and Tree Breeding.  My research focus is in developing practical tools to improve the value of forest plantations and the explicit uncertainty utilization into forestry decisions.  My work is mostly through the Plantation Management Research Cooperative, the Wood Quality Consorptium, the Forest Health Cooperative and the Langdale Center of Forest Bussiness.

Recent publications

Elected world President of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), past President of the Southern Chapter of ISA (9 states), past President of the international Arboriculture Research &
Education Academy (AREA), and founding member and past President of the Georgia Urban Forest Council.

Appointed to the USDA-Secretary’s NUCFAC (National Urban & Community Forestry Advisory Council), advising on urban and community forestry issues representing the nation's educational institutions.

Our lab is interested in understanding how biotic and abiotic factors influence the physiology of trees and how the physiological mechanisms of trees regulate ecosystem processes. Our main research themes are focused on water, carbon, and nitrogen cycling in forest ecosystems. Within these research themes, we explore both basic and applied questions.