Giovannoni is best known for his molecular and genetic analysis of fruit physiology and ripening and signal transduction systems in the tomato and additional fruit species. He has researched genes that underlie important fruit development, nutrition, and quality traits, as well as the role of epigenetics in fruit development. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Giovannoni is the second Hagler Fellow to be supported by the Timothy C. Hall – Heep Distinguished Faculty Chair in Biology. His honors include the Award for Food Security, US Secretary of Agriculture and the Area Senior Research Scientist Award, USDA-Agricultural Research Service. He will collaborate with faculty and students in the colleges of science, agriculture and life sciences, engineering, veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences, and medicine.