California State University Bakersfield

 

Welcome to the Webpage of

Dr. Anna L. Jacobsen

Dr Anna Jacobsen at St Marys Lake

Professor

 

Plant Structure-Function

Plant Anatomy

Plant Ecology

Global Change Biology

 

Contact Information:

Department of Biology

California State University Bakersfield

61 SCI

9001 Stockdale Highway

Bakersfield, CA 93311

USA

ajacobsen at csub dot edu

661-654-2572

 

Teaching

 

Research

Publications

Lab Members and Research Projects

Research Methods

 

Brief professional biography:

 

Dr. Anna L. Jacobsen completed her undergraduate studies as a Regents' Scholar at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA where she conducted research on chaparral shrub ecology, anatomy, and hydraulic function in the laboratory of Dr. Stephen D. Davis and was awarded a Pennsylvania State James A. Finnegan Fellowship. She graduated from Pepperdine University with a B. S. Biology with honors. She was selected as a participant in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and she spent a year living and conducting research in South Africa at Stellenbosch University as a Fulbright Scholar. Upon returning to the States, she entered graduate school in the Department of Plant Biology at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI in the laboratory of Dr. Frank W. Ewers. Her graduate studies were supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF-GRFP) and a National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant (NSF-DDIG; Division of Environmental Biology DEB-0710020).  Dr. Jacobsen completed a dual Ph. D. in Plant Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, & Behavior (EEBB). She was a post-doctoral researcher on a grant funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation before being hired as a professor at California State University, Bakersfield. Her research investigates how plants respond to stresses and recover from disturbance. She was awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award (NSF-CAREER; Division of Integrative Organismal Systems IOS-1252232) and was a member of the CSUB Center for Research in Excellence in Science and Technology (NSF-HRD CREST 1547784). She has published numerous scholarly articles in her areas of expertise (list of selected publications).

 

Recipient of the CSUB Leadership and Service Award 2021-2022: The Faculty Leadership and Service Award recognizes one faculty member each year for their outstanding contributions to the principle and practice of shared governance and service to the community. "Dr. Anna L. Jacobsen, Professor of Biology, is an exemplary scholar, teacher, and university citizen. Dr. Jacobsen has been served on many university committees and boards. In particular, she is recognized for her leadership and service as a member of the Academic Senate, Faculty Affairs Committee, and CSUB Foundation Board, where she has been a strong voice for faculty in university decision-making and a champion of the university in the larger community. She also has an outstanding scholarship record and, as a research mentor and Biology Graduate Program Director, has inspired and empowered students to strive for excellence in their studies in the biological sciences. She is currently serving as co-Director for the CSUB Title Vb program to support graduate program excellence in the sciences."

Recipient of the CSUB Faculty Scholarship and Creativity Award 2018-2019: The Faculty Scholarship & Creative Activity award was established in by the Academic Senate of California State University, Bakersfield and the CSUB Foundation in order to recognize and encourage outstanding contributions to the principle and practice of research and creative activity. One faculty member is selected each year for this award. "Dr. Anna Jacobsen was the recipient of the Faculty Scholarship and Creativity Award 2018-2019 (CSU-wide Outstanding Faculty).  Her core research focuses on plant vascular structure and function.  This is an integrative and interdisciplinary field requiring her to be an expert in microscopy, plant anatomy, evolution, and plant physiology.  She has used a comparative community approach to test long standing questions in plant evolution and ecology, with a focus on California native plants.  Dr. Jacobsen has also studied key crop plants like grapevine and olive, examining their vascular function in the context of irrigation, productivity, and pathogens.  Dr. Jacobsen has developed and maintained a highly active and successful research program.  She has produced many peer-reviewed publications, been funded by outside agencies, and provided numerous opportunities for student involvement in and exposure to scientific research."

 

Selected Jacobsen lab research highlights, interviews, and press releases:

October 19, 2022 "Giant sequoia tree population faces large decline due to wildfires" by Kaitlyn Milam, Runner News Report link

September 2, 2022 "CSUB faculty member received National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation grant: Funding will support acquisition of new field emission scanning electron microscope" link

September 1, 2022 "California's Climate Makes It Especially Vulnerable to Global Warming" New York Times by Soumya Karlamangla link

June 7, 2022 "Making people smile: Biology graduate Jessica Valdovinos-Ayala works toward dream of becoming a dentist" link

January 20, 2022 "Alumna wins regional graduate student award: Jaycie Fickle earns top STEM award from Western Association of Graduate Schools" link

October 27, 2021 "From roots to shoots: Biology alum Alex Baer publishes research on wood function throughout trees" link

August 30, 2021 "Vascular function in woody plants: Dr. Pratt and team publish research in prestigious journal" by Kelly Ardis link

August 10, 2021 "Being a human scientist" by Kelly Ardis link

June 24, 2021 "The women leaders of CSUB" link

April 22, 2021 17 News and Sunrise, KGET Sunrise Interviews "Earth Day: Changing climate and eco-friendly tips" link

April 19, 2021 "The race against the climate crisis" by Alex Beall link

January 22, 2021 "Measuring our air: New Eddy Flux tower installed on campus" link

January 21, 2021 Episode 080-"How Similiar Bakersfield's Climate Is To That Of The Mediterranean While Touching On The Science Behind The Shrubs & Trees In Both Regions" Our Two Cents Podcast link

November 9, 2020 "CSUB faculty members part of international team researching drought-related tree death" link

June 25, 2020 "CREST program supports student climate research" link

February 2020 "Studying California oak vascular adaptations using new and traditional imaging methods" by Marta Percolla, Anna Jacobsen, and Brandon Pratt in Nemophila (pages 3-5). link

February 19, 2020 "Fulbright Scholar Joins CSUB Biology Team" link

September 25, 2019 "From California to South Africa: A Biologist's dream" by Lauren Hill at The Runner. image link

October, 2018 Tejon Ranch Conservancy Researcher Showcase. link

August 23, 2018 CSUB Honors Faculty, Staff Members with Top Awards. link

Sept. 12, 2016 Scientists gather to study the secrets of plants' plumbing. link

Sept. 9, 2016 "Plant-a-thon." link

June 23, 2016 Drought effects on chaparral shrublands on Tejon Ranch. link

April 9, 2016 California Botanical Society's Annual Banquet in Bakersfield, CA (pgs 9-13 of Spring 2016 Nemophila). link

June 1, 2015 Memorial research. link

August 14, 2014 A new sign worth checking out. link (Audubon Kern River Environmental Studies Area pdf)

Spring 2013 Science on Fire. link

Dec. 26, 2013 Drought and fire work together to alter California shrub systems. link

Dec. 13, 2012 World's forests at risk of injury from drought. link

June 2010 Sustainable Water Management: Understanding ecology of riparian habitats to enable effective catchment management. link

January 2010 Invasive species and fire in California. link

Spring 2006 Fires in southern California shrublands.  link

 

 

 

Links:

 

CSUB Biology Department Homepage

 

CSUB Homepage