Carsten Külheim

Dr. Carsten Külheim is an Associate Professor at Michigan Tech's Ecosystem Science Center, specializing in plant-environment interactions and forest resilience. His research combines genomics, chemical ecology, and functional biology to develop trees capable of thriving under climate stressors.

• Education: Ph.D. and B.S. in Plant Physiology from Umeå University

Research Focus: Investigates abiotic (heat, drought, cold) and biotic (insects, pathogens) stress responses in trees, utilizing whole-genome sequencing, functional genomics, and plant physiology. Key applications include sustainable forestry, biofuels, and high-tech material production from timber.

Publication Trends: Recent work emphasizes terpene metabolism in Eucalyptus, climate adaptation strategies in oak species, and genomic approaches to wood formation. Research spans stress physiology, chemical defense mechanisms, and evolutionary genetics.

Laboratory: The Kuelheim Laboratory develops genetic tools for improving tree resilience and resource efficiency in changing environments.