Gerald Berkowitz

Gerald Berkowitz is a Professor of Horticulture in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture at the University of Connecticut. He is affiliated with the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources and the Agricultural Biotechnology Laboratory (ABL). His research focuses on molecular biology of cannabis, cell signaling mechanisms, and calcium signaling in plant physiology.

• Education:
• PhD in Plant Physiology, Brandeis University (1983)
• MS in Crop Physiology, Texas Tech University (1979)
• BS in Agronomy, Cornell University (1977)

His current research projects include studying enzymes in cannabinoid and terpene biosynthesis, identifying genes involved in trichome development, and investigating environmental impacts on cannabinoid production. He also examines how extracellular signals activate receptors and cytosolic secondary messengers to regulate cellular responses during pathogen infection or environmental stress.

Berkowitz teaches undergraduate courses in biotechnology, agricultural technology, organic farming, and environmental agriculture, as well as graduate courses in plant physiology and analysis techniques. He is actively recruiting graduate students for his lab.

Labs/Teams: His primary lab is located at the Agricultural Biotechnology Laboratory (ABL 302C), part of the UConn research infrastructure.