Lisa Ainsworth

Lisa Ainsworth is an Adjunct Professor of Plant Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Plant Physiologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service. She leads the Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit and directs research at the SoyFACE facility. Her work focuses on understanding plant responses to global environmental changes, particularly rising CO₂ and ozone levels, to enhance crop resilience and productivity.

Education: B.S. in Biology from UCLA; Ph.D. in Crop Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, advised by Steve Long. Her research integrates genetic, molecular, biochemical, and physiological approaches to identify targets for crop breeding and biotechnology.

Research emphasizes quantifying plant responses to climate change via meta-analyses, high-throughput tools, and genomic studies. The goal is to maximize crop yields under future climate conditions, including elevated CO₂, ozone, temperature, and drought stress.

Labs/Teams: Oversees the Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, collaborating to address agricultural sustainability challenges posed by global environmental shifts.