ecophyslab people
William (Bill) Hammond
Assistant Professor of Plant Ecophysiology
Dr. Hammond is a plant ecophysiologist and global change ecologist. Broadly, he is interested in how plant vascular systems react to extreme environmental conditions—especially regarding their function, dysfunction, and the limits of survival. Visit the research and publications pages for more information about current research projects and published work.
Education:
BS in Biology, University of Central Oklahoma
PhD in Plant Biology, Oklahoma State University
Gerard Sapés
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Gerard's goal is to understand why do plants die under drought stress and find the key physiological factors that can predict when plants will die from drought. Some of these factors include the amount of water within living tissues of plants, the number of air bubbles in their vascular system, and the amount of sugars that plants have stored to use during times of stress. He is also interested in the potential role that both fungal symbionts and parasites can have on either reducing or amplifying stress under drought.
Education:
BS in Biology, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona
MS in Terrestrial Ecology, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona CREAF
PhD in Plant Physiology, University of Montana
Yangyang Song
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Yang investigated the effects of peanut seed maturity on crop physiology and how these effects manifested over generations during his PhD study. His recent research focuses on both laboratory and field-based studies linking hyperspectral data to critical ecosystem processes, with an emphasis on root development and function. Yang is also collaborating with the Agroecosystem Ecology Lab (https: // www. agroecosystem-ecology.com/, co-advised by Dr. Chris Wilson) to support linking physiological and spectral data with biogeochemical models.
Education:
BS & MS in Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University
PhD in Agronomy, University of Florida
Justin Pitts
PhD Student - School of Natural Resources and Environment
Justin is a broadly trained plant physiologist with interests in both crop and tree species. His research is focused on impacts that changing environmental conditions have on plant function and yield in hopes of better understanding these mechanisms in the face of climate uncertainties. Justin’s current dissertation work involves research on the impacts that drought stress has on coffee tree physiology as well as drought’s impacts on the formation of aflatoxin in peanut.
Education:
BS in Biology, Stetson University
MS in Forestry, Mississippi State University