Eva J. Pell (born March 11, 1948) is a biologist, plant pathologist, and science administrator. Pell's research focused on the physiological and biochemical impacts of air pollutants on vegetation. As a science administrator at Pennsylvania State University and the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Pell initiated several pan-institutional science institutes. Since leaving the Smithsonian, she is developing a series of adventure stories for elementary school children with the theme rescuing endangered species. Early life and education Eva Joy Pell was born in New York, New York. She earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from City College of New York in 1968 and a Ph.D in plant biology from Rutgers University in 1972. Career Eva J. Pell was appointed as Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology at the Pennsylvania State University in 1973. In 1991, she was named Distinguished Professor of Plant Pathology and in 1995, was named the John and Nancy Steimer Professor of Agricultural Sciences. Pell's research focused on the physiological and biochemical impacts of air pollutants on vegetation, and her research spanned from the molecular to the ecophysiological. Her work examined several pollutants – sulfur dioxide, acid rain, and ozone – and she is known for her study of the mechanism for ozone-induced accelerated leaf senescence (aging). She is the author or co-author of more than 100 publications and 65 abstracts. Pell's career as a science administrator began on July 1, 1999 when she was appointed Interim Vice President of Research at Pennsylvania State University, which she served until January 2000. In January 2000, Dr. Pell was appointed Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at Pennsylvania State University. On May 12, 2006, her title was changed to Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, a position she held until December 31, 2009. In her role as Senior Vice President for Research, Pell spearheaded the development of cross-disciplinary institutes for life sciences, materials, energy and environment, social sciences, cyber science, and arts and humanities. She oversaw the full development of the Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences, the Materials Research Institute, the Social Science Research Institute, the Penn State Institutes for Energy and the Environment, and the Institute for CyberScience. An outgrowth of that effort included Eva championing the construction of the state-of-the art Millennium Science Complex, home to the Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences and the Materials Research Institute. All six