Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Emerging Frontiers awarded a $367,034 Project Grant to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) effective February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2030, under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074). This collaborative research initiative investigates environmental maladaptation in two California oak species—valley oak (Quercus lobata) and coast live oak (Q. agrifolia)—by linking physiological traits, tree performance metrics, and genomic data. The project will deliver scientific research products including: mechanistic understanding of how physiological traits determine tree growth, survival, and reproduction; identification of the genetic basis of these traits; development of predictive models to assess population vulnerability and resilience across geographic gradients; and generation of findings applicable to oak restoration and conservation strategies in California and other forest ecosystems.

The research will also produce workforce development outputs through the education and training of students and postdoctoral scientists in integrative biology, ecology, evolution, and forestry. By addressing the understudied phenomenon of maladaptation in long-lived tree species, this project provides a case study applicable to other forest tree species facing similar climate-driven environmental challenges. The deliverables support both immediate management needs for oak restoration in areas affected by harvest or wildfire and contribute to the broader scientific knowledge base on tree adaptation to changing environmental conditions.