About
The Ávila-Lovera lab at The University of Utah is interested in understanding how plants respond to and tolerate drought, with a special focus on stem photosynthesis in desert plants. Stem photosynthesis is known to be advantageous in seasonally dry ecosystems, as plants have an extended growing season, but its effects on plant drought tolerance and survival are fairly unknown.
Menodora spinescens in Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by M. De Guzman.
Oranys, Osedipo and Eleinis (+ two field assistants) in Lytle Nature Preserve in May 2025. Photo by Oranys Marín.
The lab at our end of semester lunch, December 2025.
Starch granules stained with Lugol. February 2026.
Recent Events
Bri Rinn presented her summer 2025 research at the Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium (April 2026).
Byron Woullet presented his research on non-structural carbohydrates at the Wilkes Summit on May 13, 2026.