Rolf Christoffersen

Rolf Christoffersen is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He holds a Ph.D. from UCLA (1983) and conducted postdoctoral research at McGill University and UC Davis. His academic career at UCSB began in 1985.

Christoffersen’s research focuses on plant and yeast metabolism, particularly fruit ripening in avocados and yeast fermentation volatiles. His lab investigates browning disorders in avocados, polyphenol oxidase activation, and CRISPR/Cas9 applications in industrial yeast strains. Concurrently, he leads STEM education initiatives to improve retention and success rates for at-risk undergraduate students through structured courses and mentorship programs.

His research contributions span over four decades, with key studies on ethylene regulation in plant development, cellulase gene expression, and cytochrome P450 function. He has published extensively in journals like Postharvest Biology and Technology, Plant Physiology, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Christoffersen’s educational work emphasizes scalable peer mentorship and course redesign to enhance equity in STEM. His programs aim to address systemic barriers faced by first-year students and underrepresented groups.

He currently advises no named students but collaborates on grants related to both biological research and pedagogical innovation. His lab facilities are part of UCSB’s MCDB Department, supporting interdisciplinary studies in plant science and fermentation technology.