Joseph B. Yavitt is a Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at Cornell University, within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. His research focuses on ecosystem ecology, with emphasis on wetland and forest dynamics, biogeochemical cycles, and tropical forest ecosystems. He leads global research networks studying peatlands from Canada to the southern Appalachian Mountains and tropical forests in Panama, alongside local studies near Cornell. Education: Doctorate from the University of Wyoming (1984), Master of Science from the University of Arizona (1979), and Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara (1977). Research interests include soil carbon dynamics, methane emissions, and plant-microbe interactions, with recent work addressing climate change impacts on ecosystems. Awards include AAAS Fellowship (2018) and Sigma Xi membership (1984). He teaches courses such as NTRES 2010 (Environmental Conservation) and NTRES 3030 (Introduction to Biogeochemistry). Key publications include studies on peatland rehabilitation in Ontario, nitrogen cycling in tropical forests, and soil fauna roles in decomposition. His work often combines field experiments, isotopic tracing, and microbial community analyses to understand ecosystem function.
