George Koch

George Koch is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University and is affiliated with the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society. His research focuses on the physiological and ecological mechanisms governing tree growth, carbon storage, and responses to environmental stress.

His research interests lie at the intersection of plant physiology and ecosystem science, particularly in understanding how trees manage carbon reserves, respond to drought, and transport water and nutrients through sapwood. He investigates species such as Populus, Pinus, and Sequoia, with a strong emphasis on long-term carbon dynamics and forest resilience under climate change.

The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on tree ecophysiology, with key themes including sapwood function, remote sensing of forest biomass, global water potential monitoring (e.g., PSInet), and nutrient use efficiency in challenging environments. These works reflect interdisciplinary collaboration across institutions and integration of field measurements with modeling and remote sensing.

George Koch has been actively publishing in top ecological journals such as New Phytologist, Tree Physiology, and Functional Ecology, demonstrating sustained scholarly productivity. While specific awards are not listed, his h-index of 6 and consistent publication record indicate significant scholarly impact.

He collaborates widely across the globe, contributing to large-scale ecological initiatives and mentoring early-career researchers through joint publications. His work contributes to foundational knowledge in forest ecology and supports efforts to model and predict ecosystem responses to global change.