We study how plants can be used to create renewable energy and clean up contaminated soil.
Research
Using a combination of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and genomics, we seek to identify key genes responsible for important plant traits. Our research ranges from basic to applied, from understanding the genes that control the formation of trichomes (plant hairs) and development of flowers to the genes that enhance the use of plants for bioenergy and phytoremediation.
Teaching
My teaching is focused on guiding students through the workings of the cell. In Cell Biology we look at what happens in the cell from the time a signal (such as a hormone) is perceived, until a protein is made and transported to its final location. In Cellular Basis of Adaptation, we look at what happens at the cellular level when plants, animals and microbes are exposed to environmental stresses such as cold, predation, hypoxia, and infection.
Topics
- Cell biology
- Influential science books
- Plant molecular biology
