Rebecca Drenovsky

Rebecca Drenovsky is a Professor of Biology and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at John Carroll University. She leads research on plant-soil interactions, focusing on adaptations to unique soils (e.g., serpentine, gypsum), invasive species dynamics, nutrient resorption, and STEM education strategies.

• B.S. in Biology, Aquinas College
• Ph.D. in Plant Biology, University of California, Davis
• Post-doctoral research in Soil Microbial Ecology, UC Davis

Research Interests:

• Plant-soil interactions in resource-poor environments
• Physiological mechanisms of gypsum/serpentine soil adaptation
• Ecology of aridland communities and restoration strategies
• Functional traits driving plant invasiveness
• Environmental constraints on nutrient recycling in plants

Scientific Contributions:

• Coordinated global GYPWORLD consortium
• NSF-funded SSTEM MIRRORS project on student retention
• Collaborated with University of Nevada, Las Vegas on drylands algae

Teaching:

• Principles of Biology II & III
• Plant Physiology (BL 4200/5200)
• Plant Ecology (BL 4350/5350)
• Desert Biology (BL 4540/5540)
• Experimental Design & Analysis (BL 5600)