A. Elizabeth (Betsy) Arnold

Interim Director, School of Plant Sciences
Professor and Curator, RLG Mycological Herbarium
Research

We study fungal ecology, evolution, and systematics, with a special focus on fungal endophytes. We focus on plant communities ranging from Arctic tundra to hot deserts, tropical forests, and agroecosystems. Our diverse projects are united by an interdisciplinary approach and our passion for organismal biology.

Interests

Fungal ecology, evolution, and systematics; the evolution of symbioses; plant microbiomes

Teaching

PLP 329A, Microbial Diversity
PLP 550, Principles of Plant Microbiology
PLP 475/575, Advanced Mycology (co-taught with Marc Orbach)
PLS195a, How will we feed and clothe 9 billion people by 2050? (co-taught with David Galbraith)
PLP 596b, sec 253, Topics in Fungal and Microbial Ecology and Evolution
HNRS 195I, Honors colloquium, special topics in science

Degree(s)

  • BS, Biology, Duke University
  • Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the University of Arizona
  • NSF Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbial Biology, Duke University