Jessica A. Savage

Jessica A. Savage is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth, affiliated with the Swenson College of Science and Engineering. Her research bridges plant physiology and ecophysiology, focusing on how plant vascular systems (especially phloem) influence ecological patterns and phenology.

• PhD (2010) and BS (2002) graduate from the University of Minnesota and Rochester, respectively
• Currently mentoring five graduate students in the Integrated Biosciences program

Key research themes include:

• Phloem physiology in tall trees and giant pumpkins
• Seasonal phenology and vascular-organ coordination
• Stress tolerance mechanisms across diverse species
• Ecological implications of vascular system evolution

Her 2021–2020 publications reveal trends in:

• Phloem anatomy responses to cold climates
• Phenology timing in woody plants
• Hydraulic resistance scaling with height
• Resource allocation trade-offs in flowering

Notable scientific awards include the NSF CAREER award (2020). She advises graduate students in BIOL 4804 and IBS 8011/8013, with recent graduates working on floral freezing tolerance and invasive species phenology.