Dr. Xiangtao Xu

Associate Professor

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Biography

Xiangtao Xu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University. His research focuses on ecosystem ecology, particularly regarding the interplay between vegetation and environmental conditions in the context of global change. He employs process-based ecosystem models to integrate heterogeneous data sets related to plant ecophysiology and land surface processes, exploring how plants respond to water stress amidst increasing drought frequency. His lab investigates various topics, including canopy phenology in tropical and temperate forests, the responses of plants to environmental heterogeneity, and the impact of biogeochemical cycles on vegetation dynamics. Xu’s work has been published in numerous prestigious journals, contributing significant insights to the understanding of ecosystem functioning and biodiversity in changing climates. He has extensive field experience in tropical moist forests in Panama and Costa Rica, as well as in temperate regions, enhancing the ecological relevance of his studies.

Research Interests

Courses

BIOEE 7600: Special Topics in Evolutionary Ecology BIOEE 9990: Ph.D. Dissertation Research

Requirements for Cornell University

Master Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Listening
Required:15
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:22
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Architecture or related field
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Portfolio (SlideRoom)
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • Transcripts
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

Department of Architecture