Craig Brodersen, who has led groundbreaking research and provided exceptional leadership in the field of plant physiological ecology, was recently appointed the Howard and Maryam Newman Professor of Plant Physiological Ecology, effective immediately.
Brodersen is a member at the Yale School of the Environment (YSE) and has a secondary appointment in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Craig Brodersen
Howard and Maryam Newman Professor of Plant Physiological Ecology
He is the inaugural holder of the Newman professorship, which seeks to honor and advance the field of plant ecology.
In his research, Brodersen has examined questions related to plant hydraulics, plant responses to environmental stress, and the anatomical and physiological adaptations of plants.
Since joining the Yale faculty in 2014, Brodersen has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in both research and teaching. His research findings — published in more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact papers in journals such as Science, The Plant Cell, and New Phytologist — has advanced the scientific understanding of plant hydraulics and xylem function, particularly in the context of drought adaptations to climate change.
Brodersen’s contributions to the field of plant physiology have provided critical insights into the mechanisms by which plants manage water transport and stress responses, significantly advancing our understanding of plant resilience in the face of climate change. His work on xylem embolism, for instance, has elucidated how plants cope with hydraulic failure of the plant vascular system that blocks the movement of water during drought conditions, offering potential pathways for developing more drought-resistant crops. Furthermore, his research on the structural organization of plant tissues using advanced imaging techniques such as X-ray micro-computed tomography has set new standards in the field, enabling unprecedented visualization and understanding of plant anatomy and function.
His innovative approach to research is exemplified by his development of an X-ray micro-CT imaging method that has the potential to revolutionize the study of plant responses to environmental stress.
In addition to his research achievements, he is a dedicated educator and mentor. He consistently receives overwhelmingly positive evaluations for his courses — including graduate courses for YSE students and introductory science course for Yale College undergraduates through the Environmental Studies Program — which are known for their hands-on approach and integration of cutting-edge research techniques. His teaching philosophy emphasizes experiential learning, as evidenced by his popular course “Plant Ecophysiology,” in which students engage in practical experiments to measure plant traits in a greenhouse setting and at Yale Myers Forest. And through his mentorship he has guided numerous students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have gone on to successful academic and research careers.
Brodersen’s leadership extends beyond the laboratory and classroom. He is actively involved in several professional organizations and serves as an associate editor for the American Journal of Botany. His outreach efforts include collaborations with institutions such as the Salk Institute, where he leads joint projects supported by the Howard and Maryam Newman Family Plant Research Fund. This fund has enabled significant advancements in plant research, including high-throughput screening of plant traits and responses to environmental stressors. The collaboration has resulted in groundbreaking discoveries, such as the new methods mentioned above for measuring internal plant cell pressure, leading to new understanding about plant responses to saline and dry soils. These efforts are not only advancing scientific knowledge but also have practical applications in agriculture and environmental management.
And he secured substantial funding to support his research initiatives, attracting significant grants from prestigious organizations such as the National Science Foundation and Yale Planetary Solutions. Notably, his involvement in the Yale-Salk Foundation Collaboration - Harnessing Plants Initiative highlights his capability to lead large-scale, interdisciplinary projects that address pressing global challenges such as climate change and food security.
At YSE, Brodersen has served on numerous committees, contributing to strategic planning, faculty recruitment, and student mentoring initiatives. His role as a faculty representative on the OneYSE committee reflects his dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive academic environment. Additionally, his involvement with the Yale Digital Education Strategy Committee and the Yale Biological Safety Committee demonstrates his commitment to advancing both education and research infrastructure at the university.
Brodersen earned his Ph.D., in botany, at the University of Vermont and M.S. and B.S. degrees, both in biology, at Wake Forest University. He also had extensive postdoctoral experiences at the University of Davis, California and the University of California, Santa Cruz.
