James Lewis

James Lewis is a Professor and Department Chair of Biological Sciences at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Campus. His research focuses on human impacts on the environment, including urbanization, invasive species, climate change, and habitat fragmentation. He leads studies at sites such as the Calder Center, Central Park, and Black Rock Forest, examining plant responses to environmental stressors.

Education: BS in Biology (Penn State, 1989), MS in Ecology (Penn State, 1989), PhD in Botany (Duke University, 1994). Postdoctoral research at the National Research Council with the EPA’s Western Ecology Division (1995–1998).

Research emphasizes disentangling effects of plant age and developmental stage on environmental responses. Collaborative projects include USDA-funded studies on hemlock woolly adelgid impacts and NSF-funded climate change research. His work highlights ecological mechanisms regulating species diversity and productivity in fragmented or invaded ecosystems.

Funding: Key grants include NSF support for urbanization studies and USDA grants for hemlock forest research. Fieldwork integrates physiological and developmental processes to address ecological challenges in human-impacted landscapes.