Ensminger Lab
Molecular Plant Physiology,
Global Change Biology & Photosynthesis
Department of Biology
University of Toronto Mississauga
Research on the Biology of Trees, Global Change & Photosynthesis
Our goal: To better understand tree responses to environmental change for productive and resilient forests – From molecular to leaf, species and ecosystem levels.
We investigate the physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms that control photosynthesis, growth and resilience of trees to changing environmental conditions
We are located in the Department of Biology at the University of Toronto Mississauga.
Areas of Research
See the list of current projects and find more details about our ongoing research
Environmental stress physiology of plants
How do plants adapt and acclimate to environmental change?
Tomorrows forests
How will heat, drought and pests impact tree growth in the future? Will warming increase the forest carbon sink?
Response of photosynthesis and carbon metabolism to low temperature
Research in conifers to understand low temperature acclimation and freezing resistance
Lab News
We are hiring! Postdoc position in drone-based high resolution imagery
Postdoc position studying forest dynamics and tree resilience to climate change impacts using high resolution drone-based imagery The FastPheno project is soliciting applications for a postdoctoral position at the University of Toronto. The individual will be working as part of a larger team including researchers from the University of Toronto, Université Laval, Natural Resources Canada, and the Ministry of Forests,…
Great Success at CSPB !
This last week was the Canadian Society of Plant Biologists’ Annual Conference at the University of Laval in Quebec City! Our lab members Qi, Emilie, Bridget, Siyu, Anchalya and Noelle went and all presented talks and posters in various sessions throughout the week. Bridget got an honourable mention for the President’s Award in recognition of an outstanding oral presentation, for…
Siyu wins CGCS Graduate Student Research Award
The Centre for Global Change Science (CGCS) awards the Graduate Student Award on a competitive basis to graduate students at the University of Toronto for projects that broaden the students’ research experience in a manner not possible within the scope of their current degree program. Congrats to Siyu on this excellent achievement ! With this award, Siyu will also be…
First Field Campaign of the year!
This week marked our first venture this year into the field for the FastPheno project ! Collection of drone data as well as ground truthing hyperspectral data, fluorescence were done, as well as needle tissue sampled for pigment analysis. There was still snow on the ground but that didn’t stop us from completing measurements. This is a crucial time for…
Snow Days, S-“no” Problem
UTM was hit with a big snow storm today, which reminded us here at the lab that it is still winter, despite the higher than normal temperatures this year! The environmental signals used by trees to sense seasonality and trigger dormancy and development of cold acclimation, are the decrease in temperature and the length of photoperiod during the autumn. Increasing…
