In a broad perspective, I am interested in tree physiology: how trees work, how their environment affects their functions and how their functions affect their environment. Currently I am working to understand the water use patterns and water sources of urban trees that are exposed to a different set of environmental conditions and stresses than trees in forests.

My background is in forest sciences and ecosystem-atmosphere interactions. My Ph.D. focused on the interplay between tree physiology, tree defense and the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from different parts of conifer trees. Specifically, I looked at how temperature and tree water relations affected the pressure of resin, and how both the resin and water dynamics affected the emissions of VOCs originating from resin and from other sources in the tree.