Welcome!

Welcome to the Holbrook lab! We study the physics and physiology of vascular transport in plants with the goal of understanding how constraints on the movement of water and solutes between soil and leaves influences ecological and evolutionary processes. Currently, we are working on questions relating to cavitation, stomatal mechanics, leaf hydraulic design, and xylem evolution.

Holbrook Lab 2016
Lab photo 2016. Top row: Teressa Alexander, Cynthia Gerlein-Safdi, Greg Ceccantini, Jess Gersony, Alexandre "Pono" Ponomarenko, Walton "Tinker" Green. Bottom row: Nathan Mueller, Kadeem Gilbert, Fulton "Tony" Rockwell, Noel Michele "Missy" Holbrook, Uri Hochberg, Clement Quintard, Yongjiang "John" Zhang. Not pictured: Laura Clerx, Robinson "Wally" Fulweiler, Juan Losada, Bridget Power and Jessica Savage

Recent Publications

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Latest News

Welcome new lab members!

January 2, 2020
Welcome to new Holbrook Lab members, Yakir Preisler, Anna Sala, and Melissa Mai!  We're excited to have them join us!

Missy Holbrook to lead Harvard Alumni Association trip to Cairo, Egypt from Dec. 27th to Jan. 5th

December 27, 2019

Prof. Missy Holbrook will be leading a trip to Cairo, Egypt on behalf of Harvard's Alumni Association from Dec. 27- Jan. 5, 2020.  The trip, known as "A Family Adventure: Egypt & the Nile" will include a tour of one of Giza’s Great Pyramids, a view of the Sphinx up close, and a visit to Luxor’s temples.  In Luxor, travelers will board the intimate Sanctuary Nile Adventurer for a four-night cruise to...

Read more about Missy Holbrook to lead Harvard Alumni Association trip to Cairo, Egypt from Dec. 27th to Jan. 5th
Joyce G. Chery

Joyce Chery to give HUH Seminar on Nov. 5th

November 5, 2019
Joyce Chery, who is a postdoctoral researcher at Pennsylvania State University, has been invited to give the HUH Seminar on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.  The title of her talk will be, "How do plants climb? Macroevolutionary patterns to fine-scale cell wall dynamics."  As usual, the seminar will be held at noon in the Herbaria Seminar Room, 22 Divinity Ave. in Cambridge.  The Holbrook lab is hosting Joyce and is very excited to hear her talk! Read more about Joyce Chery to give HUH Seminar on Nov. 5th

Holbrook Lab members travel to Padua, Italy for the 4th Xylem International Meeting held Sept. 25-27, 2019

September 25, 2019
Prof. Missy Holbrook, Jessica Gersony and Anju Manandhar of the Holbrook Lab traveled to Padua, Italy for the 4th Xylem International Meeting held September 25-27, 2019.  During the meeting, Jessica, gave a talk entitled, "Carbon export patterns in relation to diurnal and seasonal carbon and water dynamics in red oak leaves." Read more about Holbrook Lab members travel to Padua, Italy for the 4th Xylem International Meeting held Sept. 25-27, 2019

Welcome Zhe!

September 11, 2019
The Holbrook Lab is happy to welcome Zhe He as our newest graduate student.  Zhe's research interests include understanding xylem structures and their roles in plant-water relations, specifically by probing the biochemical structures and mechanical properties of the pit membranes in plant vessels.  We're wishing her a great school year! Read more about Welcome Zhe!
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