Geitmann, Anja
Interim Vice-President (Global Engagement); McGill University
Professor, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences;
Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Biomechanics of Plant Development
Anja Geitmann obtained her PhD in 1997 from the University of Siena (Italy), following undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Constance (Germany), Oregon State University (USA), and Stockholm University (Sweden). Between 1997 and 2001 she performed postdoctoral research at the Université Laval, Québec, and at the University of Wageningen, The Netherlands. From 2001 to 2015 she was Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences of the Université de Montréal and Scientist at the Institut de recherche en biologie végétale. In 2015 she joined McGill University as Professor in the Department of Plant Science, Dean at the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Associate Vice-Principal of Macdonald Campus, and in 2024 was named McGill's Interim Vice-President (Global Engagement). She served as President of the Microscopical Society of Canada, the Canadian Society of Plant Biologists, and the President of the International Association of Plant Reproduction Research. She serves on the editorial and advisory boards of multiple scientific journals including Cell, Plant Physiology, and Journal of Experimental Botany.
- Ph.D. - 1997, Università degli Studi di Siena, Italy
- M.Sc. - 1993, Universität Konstanz, Germany
- B.Sc. - 1989, Universität Konstanz, Germany
- President - International Association of Sexual Plant Reproduction Research (IASPRR) (2018-22)
- Mary E. Spencer Award - Canadian Society of Plant Biologists (2020)
- Frances W. Doane Award - Microscopical Society of Canada (2020)
- Fellow - American Society of Plant Biologists (2017)
- President - Canadian Society of Plant Biologists (2015-17)
- President - Microscopical Society of Canada (2013-15)
- Trustee - Canadian Foundation for the Development of Microscopy (2008-2013)
Crop yield is directly related to the speed of plant growth, the final size and shape of the harvested organ, and the reproductive success leading to seed set and fruit formation. The formation of leaves, shoots, roots and fruits is the result of concerted cellular activities: cell division and cell growth. The Geitmann Lab studies how these fundamental processes are controlled at subcellular level with the aim to understand how the genetic composition of an organism translates into its characteristic shape, form and functionality.
Biomechanics of Plant Development: Plant growth entails the morphogenesis of organs and functional tissues. Dr. Geitmann studies the mechanical and cell biological underpinnings of these processes focusing on cellular growth and cell division. She focuses on the cytoskeletal control of cell wall assembly and cellular expansion.
Plant Reproduction: Seed set and fruit formation requires the delivery of sperm cells via the pollen tube, the catheterlike extension of the pollen grain. Using sophisticated microfluidic devices Dr. Geitmann studies how the pollen tube invades the pistillar tissues and reaches its target.
Biomechanical Modeling: Using mathematical modeling and computational simulation, the mechanics of plant cell growth processes, the regulation of cell wall mechanics and the dynamics of intracellular movement.
Live Cell and Ultrastructural Imaging: Cellular processes are studied using confocal laser scanning microscopy for visualization of dynamic processes and scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy for ultrastructural detail.
For current research, please visit the lab website.
