Varsha S. Pathare

Varsha S. Pathare is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science (Soil and Crop Sciences Section), joining as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in July 2025. She holds a PhD from Western Sydney University and has held postdoctoral positions at Washington State University and the University of Illinois. Her research focuses on plant ecophysiology, particularly optimizing photosynthesis and water-use efficiency in grasses under climate change. She investigates leaf anatomy, CO2/water fluxes, and C3/C4 photosynthetic pathways using field and controlled experiments.

Education includes a PhD in Biological Sciences (2018, Western Sydney University), MSc (Botany, 2009, Savitribai Phule Pune University), and BSc (Botany, 2007, Sir Parshurambhau College). Awards include a Carl Woese Fellowship and recognition for her PhD work. She has mentored over 20 students across institutions and co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed papers.

Her work bridges plant physiology and ecology, addressing climate resilience in crops and grasslands. Key projects include redesigning leaf cell walls for optimized gas exchange and integrating plant-atmosphere CO2-water fluxes into Earth system models. She collaborates with the RIPE project and serves on DEI committees, promoting STEM education at K-12 levels through PlantingScience.

• Affiliations: Cornell University, University of Illinois, Western Sydney University
• Grants: Over $370,000 in funding from institutions like the Carl Woese Institute
• Outreach: K-12 mentorship, public science engagement, and DEI advocacy