Lu Zhai

Lu Zhai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Management at Oklahoma State University. His research focuses on enhancing plant resource sustainability under climate change through integrated approaches involving vegetation modeling, stable isotopes, and remote sensing. Zhai holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Miami (FL, USA), a Master’s in Mathematics from the University of Miami, a Master’s in Forestry from Texas A&M University, and a B.S. in Forestry from Nanjing Forestry University (China).

His research interests include forest ecology, functional plant ecology, quantitative ecology, coastal ecology, and stable isotope ecology. He has led and contributed to multiple grants, including projects on avian migration modeling, drought impacts on Oklahoma forests, and alternative maple species for syrup production.

Zhai teaches courses such as NREM 3123 – Forest Measurements I, NREM 5073 – Modeling Ecosystem Processes and Species Distributions, and supervises graduate and undergraduate research. His lab, the Zhai Lab, investigates climate adaptation strategies for vegetation and ecosystem resilience. Recent publications address structural diversity’s role in forest productivity under drought, tree mortality patterns, and invasive species management.

Zhai collaborates on interdisciplinary projects combining mathematical modeling, field experiments, and remote sensing to address ecological challenges. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land), and 6 (Clean Water).