About Environmental & Plant Biology
Good News From the Chair
April 24, 2026
As we come to the close of the academic year, I want to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the many accomplishments across our department. This has been an exceptional year for PBIO, marked by impactful scholarship, student success, and continued growth as a community. We have welcomed a new colleague, Dr. Burcu Alptekin, to the department, and we are excited about the expertise and energy she brings to PBIO. At the same time, we recognize that this year included the loss of our colleague Dr. Allan Showalter, whose contributions to PBIO have left a lasting impact and will not be forgotten.
I’m also pleased to share one final piece of good news as we head into graduation: Dr. Zawar Hussain (Faik Lab), who completed his degree this spring, has accepted a postdoctoral position at the Umeå Plant Science Center at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. He will begin this position in August. This is an outstanding next step, and a wonderful way to close out the year.
Publications and Research Impact
Our faculty and students produced an impressive body of work spanning molecular biology, ecology, systematics, and environmental science. Highlights include advances in phylogenomics, sustainable nutrient management, plant reproductive biology, algal evolution, and contributions to space biology. These publications reflect the breadth and strength of our research, and our continued ability to connect fundamental science with pressing global challenges.
Awards and Honors
Our students continue to earn well-deserved recognition at the national level. This year, we celebrate recipients of the Botanical Society of America’s Young Botanist Award, the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, and Student Enhancement Awards, among others. These honors speak to the talent, dedication, and mentorship within our department.
Student and Alumni Success
We are proud of the many milestones achieved this year, from students advancing to candidacy, to alumni securing research positions, industry placements, and admission to competitive graduate programs. These successes highlight the strength of our training and the bright futures of our students.
Research, Discovery, and Engagement
From discovering new plant species in the Appalachian region to presenting research at national conferences and engaging with broader audiences, PBIO continues to expand its visibility and impact.
Support for Student Opportunities
This year also saw new investments in student success, including grant support for undergraduate and graduate research and the launch of the Paula S. Burleson Fund, which will expand access to hands-on learning, field experiences, and professional development opportunities.
Dr. Jared DeForest
Professor and Chair of Environmental & Plant Biology
Rankings
Ohio University offers one of the premier undergraduate and graduate programs in plant biology, with state, national and international stature.
In the most recent report from the National Research Council of the National Academies "A Data-Based Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States" by Ostriker et al. (2010), the Environmental & Plant Biology graduate program (along with Physics) was ranked as one of the two best graduate programs at OHIO and had an R ranking of 34 out of 118 plant science programs in the nation. The Ph.D. program fared well in virtually all of the metrics used to assess the quality of graduate programs. In addition, based on a national survey conducted in October 2007, of 43 universities with undergraduate plant biology programs, the department ranked third in the number of undergraduate majors behind Humboldt State University (California) and the University of California at Berkeley. In short, both the undergraduate and graduate programs in Plant Biology are among the strongest in the country.
Mission
The Department of Environmental and Plant Biology’s core mission is to advance our scientific understanding of plant systems through transformative research and teaching excellence in an inclusive and diverse environment. The faculty provides undergraduate and graduate student training through diverse research activities, from molecules to ecosystems. Our department is made of faculty from three complementary research programs to strategically foster research opportunities and education: Functional Genomics, Systematics & Evolution, and Ecology.
Vision
The Department of Environmental and Plant Biology is dedicated to advancing knowledge of plants through innovative research programs, discovery, and exploration. Faculty collaborate with undergraduate and graduate students to advance our understanding of environmental and plant biology through scientific discovery. We are committed to providing transformative and experiential learning opportunities to our students that prepare them to meet present and future challenges that benefit society, the environment, and industry.