Donald Richard Ort

Donald Richard Ort is a Professor in the School of Integrative Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, holding emeritus positions in Plant Biology and Crop Sciences. He specializes in enhancing plant growth and photosynthesis under environmental stresses like rising CO₂, temperature, and drought. Ort earned his B.S. in Biology/Chemistry from Wake Forest University and a Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry from Michigan State University.

His research spans climate change impacts on crops, photosynthetic efficiency, and sustainable bioenergy. Ort leads the Genomic Ecology of Global Change theme at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and directs CABBI's R&D efforts for advanced biofuels. As deputy director of RIPE, he collaborates globally to boost crop photosynthetic efficiency. He previously directed the SoyFACE open-air lab studying climate effects on Midwestern crops.

Ort has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles, including in Science, and received prestigious recognitions such as the Charles F. Kettering Award and National Academy of Sciences membership. His editorial roles include Plant Physiology editor-in-chief and Annual Review of Plant Biology associate editor.

Ort’s awards highlight his global impact: 'Highly Cited Researcher' (2015–2022), AAAS and ASPB Fellowships, and USDA Science Hall of Fame induction. His work bridges foundational plant biology with applied solutions for climate-resilient agriculture.