Bare trees against a winter sky, spring peeper frogs, lightning bugs. Tom Vogelmann lists just a few of the reasons he is happy to be back in Vermont.
"This place is just throbbing with life," Vogelmann says. "The West has spectacular scenery, but Ive missed this incredible diversity of flora and fauna that we have here."
The new chair of UVMs Department of Botany and Agricultural Chemistry makes it clear that his twenty-year career at the University of Wyoming, located in a high desert valley between mountain ranges, wasnt exactly tortured exile for one with a career invested in study of the natural world. Still, it feels good to return to his native landscape, a state where family ties are strong, and a university that has made a solid commitment to the plant sciences.
"One thing leads to another"
Vogelmann, UVM Botany. If that sounds like a familiar coupling, its with good reason. Tom Vogelmann is the eldest son of Hubert Vogelmann, professor emeritus and former chair of Botany at the university. When Hub Vogelmann retired in 1991, he closed a 36-year UVM career that included landmark research sounding one of the first alarms on acid rains effect upon forests.
Via nature or nurture, there was little chance Tom Vogelmann would reach adulthood without a strong interest in the natural sciences. "He was always good for opening up your eyes to things," Tom Vogelmann says of his father. He admits, though, that in the early part of his childhood, " I didnt want to hear too much about plants." Fossils were another matter, and many trilobites and crinoids rattle in a long-treasured rock box that returns to native soil along with Vogelmann.
"One thing leads to another geology, anthropology, archaeology. Ours was a family where we had a lot of discussions about science," Vogelmann says. His brother Jim also has a doctorate in botany, and brother Andy is the family maverick with his doctorate in meteorology and atmospheric sciences.
For Tom Vogelmanns part, it took five or six changes of major as a UVM undergrad to find his way to plant physiology. Passion found, he would go on to build his own career and reputation as a leader in the field. Vogelmanns particular area of research is plant adaptations. He uses biophysical techniques to study photosynthesis and how plant growth and development is affected by the environment. With a smile, he suggests that his particular interest in plants interaction with light may have been inspired by growing up in a corner of New England where that light can be scarce.
Vogelmann has excelled as both researcher and teacher, roles that he sees as complementary. He received University of Wyoming faculty awards for both endeavors, and he brings research that has drawn steady funding from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Returning the favor
When Vogelmann initially explored his recent career move, location was a bonus but the position would have been a strong draw if it were in Ohio, Georgia or Utah.
"I look at the quality of this department, how we can grow and see some very exciting things on the horizon," Vogelmann says. "The university has made a commitment to build the plant sciences new faculty positions, early planning for a new building. It is a whole new world and a very rare opportunity."
And as Vogelmann looks to strengthen Botany and Ag Chemistry, he takes his role mentoring emerging faculty very seriously. "Ive had help in my career from chairs who shielded me from some of the demands that compete for the time you can give to research and teaching," Vogelmann says. "Its time I returned that favor."
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