Modeling Plant Stress Responses to Drought Using Phenotypic and Environmental Data
Research Field
Plant Science | Ecology | Environmental Biology | Data Analysis
Project Overview
Understanding how plants respond to environmental stress is essential for improving agricultural resilience and ecosystem sustainability. In this project, a student will investigate how drought conditions influence plant growth and physiological traits using a combination of phenotypic measurements and publicly available environmental datasets.
The project is designed to expose students to authentic plant science research methods used in academic laboratories while allowing for independent hypothesis development and data-driven analysis.
Student Responsibilities
The student will:
Review scientific literature on plant responses to drought and water stress
Analyze plant growth and phenotypic datasets under varying environmental conditions
Develop and test hypotheses relating water availability to growth, biomass, or survival traits
Apply basic statistical and modeling techniques to interpret results
Produce a formal research paper suitable for science competitions and academic presentation
No prior research experience is required, but students should be comfortable with biology concepts and willing to learn data analysis methods.
Skills Gained
Foundations of plant physiology and stress biology
Data analysis and visualization techniques
Experimental design and hypothesis testing
Scientific writing and presentation skills
Experience working with a university-level research mentor
Time Commitment
Approximately 5–8 hours per week, depending on project scope and student goals.
Ideal Student Profile
Strong interest in plant biology, ecology, or environmental science
Organized, detail-oriented, and motivated to work independently
Prior coursework in biology recommended; statistics experience helpful but not required
