Mark G Tjoelker

Professor Mark Tjoelker is the Associate Director of the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment and science leader of the Hawkesbury Forest Experiment whole-tree chamber research facility.

He is a leading plant biologist and ecologist with expertise in the impacts of global environmental change on trees and forest ecosystems in natural and managed contexts.

His research expertise includes climate change effects on respiration and carbon cycling, climatic adaptation in plant traits, plantation forestry, urban forestry and the biogeography of forest tree species.

A goal of his research is to advance fundamental knowledge of plant and ecosystem responses to environmental change and provide science-based information to inform policy choices.

Professor Tjoelker served as an advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture through the Forestry Research Advisory Council.

He has authored more than 160 refereed journal articles and edited the book, The Biology and Ecology of Norway Spruce (Springer, 2007).

His published work is among the most cited (top 1%) in the refereed literature (Clarivate, Essential Science Indicators).

Professor Tjoelker was appointed to the prestigious Australian Research Council College of Experts from 2019 to 2021. The College plays a key role in identifying research excellence in the National Competitive Grants Program, moderating external assessments and recommending applications for funding.

Prior to arriving at Western in 2011, Professor Tjoelker was a faculty member in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Texas A&M University, USA.