Elizabeth Arnold

Elizabeth Arnold is a Professor at The University of Arizona, holding appointments in the School of Plant Sciences, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and the Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics. She serves as Curator of the Robert L. Gilbertson Mycological Herbarium. Dr. Arnold earned her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from The University of Arizona in 2002, followed by an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship at Duke University. She advanced through the ranks from Assistant Professor (2005-2010) to Associate Professor (2010-2015) to her current Professor position (2015-present).

Dr. Arnold's research centers on community ecology, evolutionary ecology, mycology, tropical biology, and microbial ecology. Her work primarily investigates plant- and lichen microbiomes with emphasis on fungal symbioses across wild and agricultural ecosystems. The Arnold Lab explores microbial richness across scales, examining how niche differentiation shapes fungal endophyte communities and their functional roles in plant health. Recent research has focused on metabolomic profiles in sorghum-microbiome interactions, tropical seed-fungal dynamics, and endohyphal bacteria like Luteibacter species.

Her publication record demonstrates expertise in fungal endophytes, seed-microbe interactions, and plant-microbe symbioses across diverse ecosystems. Analysis of her recent articles (2023-2025) reveals consistent focus on endophytic communities, their ecological functions, and applications to both natural and agricultural systems. Her work spans from molecular-scale interactions (mRNA modifications, metabolite profiles) to landscape-level patterns (biodiversity hotspots, biome connectivity).

• 2017 Warren Herb Wagner Lecturer in Plant Evolution, University of Michigan
• 2016 William H. Weston Award for Outstanding Teaching, Mycological Society of America
• 2016 Fellow, Bart Cardon Academy of Teaching Excellence, The University of Arizona
• 2014 Outstanding Seminar Speaker, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Graduate Student Association
• 2013 1885 Distinguished Scholar, The University of Arizona
• 2013 Staff Award for Excellence, Women in Science and Engineering
• 2012 Alexopoulos Prize, Outstanding Early Career Mycologist, Mycological Society of America
• 2011 Buller Medal, Outstanding Young Mycologist in North America, International Mycological Association
• 2011 David E. Cox Teaching Award, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona

Dr. Arnold serves as Executive Editor of Mycologia, Co-editor of Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Associate Editor of American Journal of Botany, and Subject Editor of Biotropica. Her research has been supported by multiple NSF grants including projects on seed-fungal interactions and macrofungal distributions. She has mentored numerous graduate students through interdisciplinary programs at The University of Arizona.

The Arnold Lab maintains active research programs investigating microbial ecology across scales, with current projects examining microbiome roles in plant invasion success (particularly Lehmann Lovegrass), seed-fungal interactions in tropical forest regeneration, and applications of microbial ecology to agricultural systems, especially sorghum's response to drought stress. The lab emphasizes both fundamental ecological questions and practical applications for ecosystem management.