Marcelo Serpe

Dr. Marcelo Serpe is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences at Boise State University, where he has been a faculty member since 1998. His academic journey began with an Ingeniero Agronomo from Universidad de Buenos Aires in 1981, followed by a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from UC Davis in 1991, and postdoctoral research at UC Riverside from 1991-1995. Prior to joining Boise State, he served as Assistant Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Cayey from 1995-1998.

Dr. Serpe's research focuses on plant growth regulation by environmental and biochemical factors, with particular emphasis on sagebrush steppe ecosystems. His work investigates how biological soil crusts, mycorrhizae, and environmental conditions influence seed germination and seedling establishment of native vegetation. This research spans molecular, cellular, and whole plant levels, employing techniques from immunochemical analysis to eco-physiological field measurements.

His publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to plant physiology, ecology, and restoration science, with recent work addressing critical questions about ecosystem restoration in sagebrush habitats threatened by invasive species and changing fire regimes. Dr. Serpe's research provides valuable insights for developing effective restoration approaches in degraded sagebrush ecosystems.

Dr. Serpe teaches General Biology, General Botany, Plant Anatomy and Microtechnique, Plant Physiology, and Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants, sharing his expertise in plant science with undergraduate and graduate students.

His laboratory work focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind seed dormancy, germination, and seedling establishment in native plants, with particular attention to how biological soil crusts and mycorrhizal relationships affect these processes in sagebrush steppe environments.