Research Interests

My research focuses on plant anatomical and physiological acclimation and adaptations to the abiotic environment. I am interested in how phenotypic and genetic variation in plant form and function interact with variation in climate over space and time to drive ecological patterns and the evolution of plant diversity. Research in our lab focuses on Rhododendron as a model system for the evolution of climate adaptations, with a special focus on how physiological processes and biomass allocation coordinate to determine species traits like stress tolerance or fast growth. In addition to research, I supervise research trainees from undergraduate to postdoctoral level, conducting work in plant physiological and evolutionary ecology on a variety of woody plant species. I am also passionate about scientific outreach activities, including development of a hands on teaching kit “The Drip Races” which teaches about plant water transport as a key component of woody plant biodiversity and conducting seminars on non-academic career paths.

Select Publications

Hamati S, JS Medeiros and D Ward. 2025. Site conditions but not intraspecific competition impact Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) sapling growth and physiology along a stress and latitude gradient. Journal of Plant Research.

Ahmad S, D J Burke, SR Carrino‑Kyker, JS Medeiros and JH Burns. 2025. Fungal communities driven by Rhododendron species correlate with pathogen protection against Phytophthora cinnamomi. Plant Soil

Medeiros JS. 2025. Biomass allocation coordinates physiological details in the context of evolutionary history to manifest species life history strategy: appreciation of Ledig et al. 1970. International Journal of Plant Sciences.

Dastpak A, M Williams, S Perkins, J Perkins, C Horn, P Thompson, C Ryan, JS Medeiros, Yi-Dong, G-F Jiang, K Simonin and AB Roddy. 2025. Cell size has pervasive effects on the functional composition and morphology of leaves: a case study in Rhododendron (Ericaceae). Physiologia Plantarum

Cryan A, Y Liu, JS Medeiros and JH Burns. 2024. Leaf discoloration in Rhododendron species exposed to Phytophthora cinnamomi corresponds with future mortality. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 42: 109-116.

Burns JH, Stuble KL and JS Medeiros. 2024. Living collections: biodiversity cultivated at public gardens has the power to connect ecological questions and evolutionary context. American Journal of Botany 111: e16394.

Medeiros JS, JH Burns, C Dowrey, F Duong and S Speroff. 2024. Leaf habit and plant architecture integrate whole-plant economics and contextualize trait-climate associations within ecologically diverse genus Rhododendron. AoB Plants 16: plae005.

Harbol S, RW Long and JS Medeiros. 2023. Juniperus virginiana sourced from colder climates maintain higher ratios of soluble sugars to starch during cold acclimation. Tree Physiology

Liu Y, DJ Burke, JS Medeiros, SR Carrino-Kyker, JH Burns. 2023. Phosphite indirectly mediates protection against root rot disease via altering soil fungal communities in Rhododendron species. Plant & Soil 491: 467–478.

Long RW, D Ward, C Baker and JS Medeiros. 2023. Some like it dry: Differences in water use strategies between historic and range expanding populations of Juniperus virginiana. International Journal of Plant Sciences 184: 507-518.

Danielson SC, R Mascia, M Metzger, KL Stuble and JS Medeiros. 2023. Stress-resistant trees are more common in urban than rural forests: A case study of Cleveland, Ohio’s natural parks. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 82: 127864.

For a full list of publications, see CV or google scholar link below.

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