By Christina Mancebo, College of Arts and Sciences
Asaph Cousins, professor of plant physiology and photosynthesis, has been appointed to serve as director for the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) as of Aug. 16, 2024. The teaching and research mission of SBS focuses on life science, including molecular, cellular, and physiological processes, evolution, ecology, and global systems.
“SBS and the College of Arts and Sciences play an integral role in the research, teaching, and outreach mission of WSU, and I am excited to work with our faculty, staff, and students to further promote our contributions,” said Cousins.
Cousins has been with WSU since 2008 and has held various leadership positions, including associate director of research for SBS and coordinator of the WSU-Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Distinguished Graduate Research Program.
His active research program focuses on relationships between plant traits and photosynthetic efficiency across diverse species in bot h natural and managed environments. He is involved with an international consortium of researchers as part of a Gates Foundation sponsored project to supercharge photosynthesis in rice to help address the world’s growing food needs. An additional area of research, funded through the US Department of Energy and Agriculture, investigates enhancing photosynthesis and resource-use efficiency in key crops grown in marginal soils and under drought.
“As a leading researcher whose work holds global scale implications, Professor Cousins’ role as director is of great service to SBS, his colleagues, and students. His foundation as a dedicated educator and collaborative researcher positions him to lead the next chapter for SBS,” said Courtney Meehan, College of Arts and Sciences interim dean.
Cousins earned a BS in botany from California State University Chico and a PhD in plant biology from Arizona State University. Prior to WSU, he was a postdoc at the University of California Davis and an NSF International Postdoc Fellow at the Australian National University. He succeeds Professor Patrick Carter, who served seven years as the SBS director and is currently interim associate dean for research and graduate studies for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Also posted at WSU Insider.