Jessica A. Savage

Jessica Savage Photo
Professional Title
Associate Professor & Associate Department Head

Education

  • Ph.D. 2010, University of Minnesota
  • B.S. 2002, University of Rochester

Curriculum Vitae

Website: https://sites.google.com/d.umn.edu/jsavage/home

Google Scholar Page 

Research

My research explores the physiological-basis of how plants interact with their environment, and how these interactions impact broader patterns in plant ecology. I have conducted research examining many aspects of plant stress tolerance and more recently investigated the role of the
plant vascular system, specifically the phloem, in determining patterns of plant growth and reproduction. My research spans the fields of plant physiology and ecology, and I have studied a variety of plant species from willows (Salix) to giant pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima). I am
currently examining how seasonal changes in the vascular system impact the timing of flowering and leaf out in the spring. This work will help us better understand the physiological basis of plant phenology and seasonality, two factors that are critical in understanding species current and
future geographic distributions.

You can see my recent work highlighted by BBC and the Smithsonian.

Selected Publications

  • Savage, J.A. and I. Chuine (2021) Tansley Review: Coordination of spring vascular and organ phenology in deciduous angiosperms growing in seasonally cold climates. New Phytologist. 230: 1700–1715. doi: 10.1111/nph.17289.
  • O’Connell, E. and J.A. Savage (2020) Extended leaf phenology has limited benefits for invasive species growing at northern latitudes. Biological Invasions. 22: 2957-2974. doi: 10.1007/s10530-020-02301-w.
  • Ray, D. and J.A. Savage (2020) Immunodetection of cell wall pectin galactan opens up new avenues for phloem research. Plant Physiology 183 (4): 1425-1437. doi: 10.1104/pp.20.00283.
  • Savage, J.A. (2019) A temporal shift in resource allocation facilitates flowering before leaf out and spring vessel maturation in woody species. American Journal of Botany 106(1):113-122. doi: 10.1002/ajb2.1222.
  • Savage, J.A., Beecher, S.D., Clerx, L., Gersony, J.T., Knoblauch, J., Losada, J.M., Jensen, K.H., Knoblauch, M. and N.M. Holbrook (2017) Maintenance of carbohydrate transport in tall trees. Nature Plants. 3: 965–972.
  • Savage, J.A., Haines, D.F. and N.M. Holbrook (2016) The making of giant pumpkins: How selective breeding changed the phloem of Cucurbita maxima from source to sink. Plant, Cell and Environment. 38(8): 1543-1554.

For more publications, see my Google Scholar page.

Teaches

  • BIOL 2802 - Ecology Laboratory 
  • BIOL 4604 - Plant Physiology
  • BIOL 4804 – Methods in Forest Ecology
  • IBS 8011/8013 - Integrated Biological Systems

Current Graduate Student Projects

  • Rebecca Rooney, (M.S., Integrated Biosciences)
  • Elise Miller, (M.S., Integrated Biosciences)
  • Danielle Lake Diver, (M.S., Integrated Biosciences)

Recently Completed Graduate Student

  • Natalie McMann, (M.S., Integrated Biosciences)
  • Erin O'Connell, (M.S., Integrated Biosciences)

Hobbies

I enjoy long distance biking and any activity that lets me explore nature like hiking, camping, botanizing, canoeing and gardening. I also love dance, literature and art.