Academic focus: Crop ecophysiology under environmental change
Research summary: My research focuses on developing fundamental, mechanistic understanding of how CO2 and water move through the complex internal spaces inside leaves during photosynthesis and transpiration, and how it impacts plant growth and resource usage. My ultimate goal is to develop crops that use less water but still produce more yield while being resilient to droughts. I primarily study grasses – a group of plants that dominates our natural and managed ecosystems and constitutes a majority of our food and biofuel crops.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I love cooking Indian food, painting, gardening and spending time with my kids.
What are your current outreach/extension projects?
My outreach focuses on addressing “plant awareness disparity” – the tendency to overlook the vital role plants play in sustaining life and maintaining a healthy climate. I believe that engaging children with plant science early, through play and hands-on learning, is key to overcoming this challenge and inspiring the next generation of plant scientists and environmental stewards. Most of my outreach efforts, therefore, center on programs and activities for K–12 students, their teachers and caregivers.
What brought you to Cornell CALS?
I chose Cornell CALS for its outstanding and global reputation, the high caliber of its students and faculty, and its welcoming, diverse and inclusive community – an environment where I can learn, grow and contribute.
What do you think is important for people to understand about your field?
Leaves are far more than just green surfaces. Inside them lies a beautiful and complex microscopic world, where specialized structures regulate how carbon dioxide enters, how water exits and how sunlight is converted into energy. These processes control how much plants grow, how much food they produce and how much carbon they remove from the atmosphere. In this way, leaves are not only the engines of our food supply but also vital players in keeping our planet’s climate habitable.
Why did you feel inspired to pursue a career in this field?
Being the daughter of a dryland farmer, I have grown up experiencing the importance of plants for the sustenance of life and healthy climate on our planet. I have also experienced the impacts that ongoing climate change is having on our ecosystems and the livelihoods of marginalized communities. The desire to join the fight against climate change has been the motivation behind my research career in plant sciences.
Learn more about Varsha from her CALS profile.
