معرفی
Professor Peter Melcher is a faculty member in the Department of Biology at Ithaca College, part of the School of Humanities and Sciences. He teaches courses such as Plant Physiology, Fundamentals of Biology, and the Biology of Meditation.
Research Interests:
- Electrophysiology of plants
- Role of electrical responses to environmental stressors (light, drought, heat, touch, sound)
- Water transport and xylem-phloem interactions
- Ecophysiology of tropical coastal plants
- Impact of introduced species on endemic flora
Publications span plant hydraulics, drought resistance, photosynthesis mechanisms, and invasive species dynamics. His 2025 textbook An Introduction to the Science of Meditation explores the biological basis of mindfulness.
Advising: Mentored students on projects related to plant physiology, including award-winning posters at conferences like the Botanical Society of America and Eastern Colleges Science Conference.
Labs & Teams: Leads the Melcher Lab, focusing on plant water relations and physiological responses to environmental stress.
