Charles Anderson

Charles Anderson is a Professor of Biology and Associate Department Head of Research and Faculty Success at Pennsylvania State University's Department of Biology. He holds affiliations with the Institutes of Energy and the Environment and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. His research focuses on plant cell walls, particularly their roles in carbon capture via stomata, biomechanical dynamics, and applications in sustainable agriculture. Anderson earned his B.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Ph.D. in Cell & Molecular Biology from Stanford University, followed by postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley.

His lab investigates how plant cell walls influence development, environmental adaptation, and bioenergy applications. Recent work includes studying stomatal guard cell mechanics, seed coatings for reforestation, and plant-based hydrogels. Anderson chairs Penn State's Plant Biology graduate program as of July 2025, succeeding Teh-hui Kao. He has advised students like Alec Paradiso (Moderna-bound) and Quentin Hays (PhD 2025). Grants include NSF-funded projects on grass stomata dynamics and collaborations with institutions like the University of Rouen.

Key research themes include cell wall polysaccharide function (e.g., rhamnogalacturonan-II), enzymatic degradation mechanisms, and plant resilience in climate crises. He advocates science policy, participating in Stand Up For Science 2025 and co-authoring policy pieces on research funding. The Anderson Lab also explores emergency food systems using lignocellulosic biomass and develops biohybrid robotics for ecological restoration.