Evan A. Perkowski, Ph.D.

I am a plant ecophysiologist and terrestrial ecosystem ecologist working at the intersection of biogeochemical cycling, nutrient acquisition strategy, and photosynthetic acclimation to understand how plant responses to global change are shaped by nutrient availability and plant nutrient uptake. As a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Smith Plant Ecophysiology Lab at Texas Tech University, my research examines how nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability influence plant resource economics, allocation tradeoffs, and photosynthetic acclimation responses to environmental change.

I received my Ph.D. from the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University in 2023, where my dissertation focused on quantifying how N availability modifies nutrient acquisition and allocation responses to global change. My postdoctoral research has expanded to quantify the global effects of N and P addition on leaf and whole-plant traits relevant for terrestrial biosphere modeling, the physiological mechanisms that define leaf- and whole-plant responses to P availability, and the effects of allelopathic plant invaders on native plant investment in photosynthetic processes, carbon budgets, and their mycorrhizal networks. This body of work has so far yielded 10 peer-reviewed publications, multiple papers in revision at leading journals, open datasets/code, and conbtributions to collaborative cross-institution collaborations.

I also care deeply about mentorship and teaching. I have helped mentor five graduate and 17 undergraduate students in various capacities, often resulting in co-authored publications and conference presentations. I strongly believe that students should be independent learners in the lab and should not just be considered worker bees. As an Instructor of Record, I’ve led large-enrollment Biology of Plants courses for non-major undergraduates, upper-division Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology courses and graduate-level equivalents, and am eager to tackle additional courses related to plant physiology and global change ecology.

Looking forward, I am seeking a tenure-track faculty position where I can establish an independent research program, secure extramural funding, and continue fostering inclusive mentorship and high-impact teaching in plant ecophysiology and global change biology.