Who we are

The Heskel Plant Ecophysiology Lab (aka the 'PEP Squad') is led by Mary Heskel and based at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN.

​In our lab group, we examine how plants in forest, grassland, and tundra systems cycle and store carbon under changing environments. To do this, we use a range of field and lab methods and apply models to better understand how plants respond to the impacts of climate change. 

Are you an undergrad at Mac? A student of any level in the Twin Cities area? Excited about researching plant responses to the environment? Contact me at mheskel [at] macalester [dot] edu for information about joining the PEP Squad!

Lab NEws

July 2020
  • Jean is creating a poster to share our research from Ordway on buckthorn and black cherry physiology in the understory at ESA 2020. Here is the abstract .
  • Elizabeth, Jennings, and Mary continue work on examining legacies of air quality and how they are captured by trees in the Twin Cities. 
  • Mary presents at a panel on Inclusive Teaching at ASPB 2020. 
June 2020
  • Mary completed her pre-tenure review files! Phew!
  • Elizabeth is reviewing studies of radiocarbon in tree cores to examine how fossil fuel emissions impact urban areas 
  • Jennings will continue work on regional and local environmental history and climate change - we will get back to microscopy when COVID allows!
  • Kori is reporting for the Mac Weekly and interning for 'Living on Earth' a public radio program based out of Boston. 
May 2020
  • Lab members Jean Pengra & Lianna Goldstein graduate! Congrats! Jean was awarded the William R. Angell Foundation Prize from the Biology Department. Lianna served as an excellent TA - even during COVID-times to Ecology & the Environment. Thanks, Lianna!
  • Jennings completed a fantastic COVID-adapted capstone paper based on the Macalester herbaria, its history, and its use as a window into plant adaptation to elevated CO2. 
  • Mary made it through two courses going remote in mid-March. Next up - Fall 2020 Module style...