Jim Coleman

Jim Coleman is a Professor of Biology and Graduate Program Director at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. His academic career includes postdoctoral research at Stanford University and Harvard University following degrees from the University of Maine and Yale University. His research focuses on plant-ecosystem interactions, including biogeochemical cycling, climate change impacts, and evolutionary ecology. Current projects explore mercury dynamics in longleaf pine ecosystems, microplastic effects on plant-insect interactions, and climate adaptation in plant species.

Education:

• B.S. Forestry (Forest Pathology), University of Maine (1982)
• M.S., M.Phil., Ph.D. Forestry and Environmental Studies (Ecology), Yale University (1985-1987)
• Postdoctoral work at Stanford University (1987-1988) and Harvard University (1988-1990)

Research Interests:

• Ecological responses to environmental stressors (climate change, pollution)
• Plant physiological adaptation mechanisms
• Longleaf pine ecosystem restoration
• Ecotypic variation and climate resilience
• Tri-trophic interactions in agroecosystems

Grants & Advising:

• Extensive grant history in environmental and ecological research
• Advises undergraduate and graduate students in ecology and environmental science
• Teaches courses including Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Health Sciences

Labs & Teams:

• Active laboratory group conducting field and lab-based ecological research
• Collaborations with institutions like Stanford, Harvard, and the DRI (Desert Research Institute)