Personal profile
Biography
Prof Mark Tjoelker is an internationally recognised research leader in sustainable ecosystems and climate change, whose research spans forestry, horticulture, and agricultural systems. He is Interim Director of the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment at Western Sydney University, node leader for the Australian Plant Phenomics Network and whole-tree chamber facility. As a leader in the NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub, he promotes nature-based solutions in urban forestry and horticulture. Prior to arriving at Western in 2011, he was Professor of Ecosystem Science at Texas A&M (2000-11).
Related links
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 15 Life on Land
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Climate and socio-economic drivers of urban tree abundance, richness and composition in Australian cities
Sharmin, M., Power, S. A., Nguyen, M., Rymer, P. D., Tjoelker, M. G. & Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Feb 2026, In: Cities. 169, 10 p., 106532.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Functional traits are better than climate niche approach at predicting the vital growth and mortality rates of urban tree species
Kibria, M. G., Tjoelker, M. G., Esperón-Rodríguez, M., Marchin, R. M., Arndt, S. K., Livesley, S. J. & Rymer, P. D., Jun 2026, In: Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 120, 15 p., 129450.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Impacts of tree allometry on structure, composition, functioning and competitive interactions in savanna ecosystems on the northern Australian tropical transect
Paudel, P., Olin, S., Tjoelker, M., Pontarp, M., Metcalfe, D. & Smith, B., Jan 2026, In: Journal of Biogeography. 53, 1, 15 p., e70131.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Spatial associations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations with climate exposure, green cover, and socioeconomic advantage in New South Wales, Australia
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Schifanella, R., Russo, A., Esperon-Rodriguez, D., Sharmin, M., Jeffries, P. & Tjoelker, M. G., Sept 2026, In: Regional Environmental Change. 26, 3, 130.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Urban forests as essential infrastructure for climate resilience and biodiversity: a call to policymakers
Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Arndt, S., Asibey, M. O., Augustinus, B. A., Bach, A., Ballinas, M., Barradas, V. L., Barton, D. N., Bauhus, J., Beaumont, L., Bissonnette, J. F., Brookhouse, M., Calaza-Martínez, P., Calfapietra, C., Lourenço, T. C., Cariñanos, P., Clemente, M., Conway, T., de Hoogh, K. & De Pauw, K. & 72 others, , 2026, In: Plants People Planet. 8, 1, p. 14-19 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)2 Downloads (Pure)
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ARC Training Centre for Smart and Sustainable Horticulture
Ghannoum, O. (PI), Singh, B. (Investigator), Smith, B. (Investigator), Sharwood, R. (Investigator), Tjoelker, M. (Investigator), Riegler, M. (Investigator), Tissue, D. (Investigator), Metternicht, G. (Investigator), Guo, Y. (Investigator), Nakandala, D. (Investigator) & Egidi, E. (Investigator)
Vertical Patch, Australian National University (ACRG), University of Western Australia, Valucky Australia Pty Ltd
1/07/24 → 29/06/30
Project: Research
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Australian Plant Phenomics Facility - Western Sydney University [via Adelaide University]
Tjoelker, M. (PI), Anderson, I. (Investigator) & Smith, B. (Investigator)
Western Sydney University, Department of Education
1/07/23 → 31/12/28
Project: Research
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Pushing the envelope: does range size limit eucalypt response to warming?
Tjoelker, M. (PI), Crous, K. (Investigator), Reich, P. (Investigator), Gallagher, R. (Investigator) & Drake, J. (Investigator)
1/03/21 → 14/08/27
Project: Research
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Monitoring tree health to build more resilient Australian urban forests
Esperon-Rodriguez, M. (PI), Tjoelker, M. (Investigator) & Medlyn, B. (Investigator)
Theo Murphy Initiative with Australian Academy of Science & Australian Citizen Science Association
27/02/23 → 15/05/24
Project: Research
Datasets
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Growth, leaf photosynthesis, leaf stem and root respiration, temperature, humidity, and photosynthetic photon flux density data for a glasshouse temperature experiment with Eucalyptus tereticornis
Drake, J., Varhammar, A., Kumarathunge, D., Medlyn, B., Pfautsch, S. & Tjoelker, M., Western Sydney University, 23 Sept 2016
DOI: 10.4225/35/57e4bf22dd3ec, https://research-data.westernsydney.edu.au/published/165b13c0519411ecb15399911543e199
Dataset
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Hiphen Literal Pasture APPN demonstration data
Pham, D., Tjoelker, M., Devasirvatham, V. & Wilson, D., Western Sydney University, 8 Oct 2025
DOI: 10.26183/dyd9-f253, https://research-data.westernsydney.edu.au/published/9522d530a3ed11f0979c21d0dbb53cef
Dataset
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Physiological assessment of whole-tree response to an extreme heatwave
Drake, J., Tjoelker, M., Varhammar, A., Leigh, A., Pfautsch, S., Lopez Rodriguez, R. A., Aspinwall, M., Crous, K., Kumarathunge, D., Nicotra, A., Tissue, D., Choat, B. & Barton, C., Western Sydney University, 15 Dec 2017
DOI: 10.4225/35/5a36f61f150f3, https://research-data.westernsydney.edu.au/published/e9d9f320519311ecb15399911543e199/
Dataset
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CanScal
Kumarathunge, D., Medlyn, B., Drake, J., De Kauwe, M. G., Tjoelker, M., Aspinwall, M., Barton, C., Campany, C., Crous, K., Yang, J. & Jiang, M., Western Sydney University, 28 Sept 2018
https://bitbucket.org/Kumarathunge/canscal
Dataset
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Photosynthetically active radiation, canopy gap fraction, and leaf area index at the EucFACE
Duursma, R., Gimeno Chocarro, T., Boer, M., Crous, K., Tjoelker, M. & Ellsworth, D., Western Sydney University, 30 Oct 2015
Dataset
Prizes
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Australian Institute of Horticulture Award of Merit
Tjoelker, M. (Recipient) & Pfautsch, S. (Recipient), 2019
Prize
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Excellence in Research Impact
Tjoelker, M. (Recipient) & Esperon-Rodriguez, M. (Recipient), 12 Dec 2024
Prize