Jian Hua

Jian Hua is a Professor in the Plant Biology Section at Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science. Her research focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms of plant environmental responses, including temperature adaptation and immunity. She leads the Hua Lab, which investigates how plants adapt to environmental challenges through genetic and epigenetic regulation. Hua holds a Ph.D. from Caltech, with postdoctoral training at MIT, and has authored numerous influential studies on plant stress biology and signaling pathways.

• Education:
• Fudan University (Biology)
• Chinese Academy of Sciences
• California Institute of Technology (Ph.D.)

Research Interests: Her work spans temperature regulation of growth and immunity, calcium signaling via BON proteins, and natural variations in stress tolerance. Key themes include how plants balance defense responses with developmental processes under fluctuating environmental conditions. Ongoing projects explore the interplay between abiotic and biotic stress pathways, leveraging genomics and genetic tools to identify critical regulators.

Teaching: Hua teaches courses in plant genetics, molecular biology, and research methods, including PLSCI 3430, 3431, and BIOG 2990.

Labs/Teams: The Hua Lab collaborates broadly, focusing on functional genomics and translational applications for crop resilience. Current projects address climate change impacts on plant adaptation, with emphasis on rice and Arabidopsis model systems.