January 2021

My research focuses on the role of hydrological processes in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Through the analysis of the soil water balance I have highlighted important nonlinearities in the coupling between soil moisture dynamics and plant water stress, biogeochemical cycling, land-atmosphere interactions, plant community composition, and soil susceptibility to wind erosion.  Using field observations and process-based models, I am investigating new mechanisms of desertification and factors contributing to the resilience of the desert margins. Our group's work has...Read more

Anu Ramaswami, Ph.D., is a professor at Princeton University in the departments of India studies, civil and environmental engineering, and at the High Meadows Environmental Institute. She is an interdisciplinary environmental engineer recognized as a pioneer and leader on the topic of sustainable urban infrastructure systems. Her work explores how seven key sectors – that provide water, energy, food, buildings, mobility, connectivity, waste management and green/public spaces – shape human and environmental wellbeing, from local to global scales. Ramaswami’s work integrates environmental...Read more