Chaofu Lu

Dr. Chaofu Lu serves as Professor in Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology at Montana State University's College of Agriculture, with dual affiliation at the Energy Research Institute. His research pioneers Camelina sativa as a sustainable bioenergy crop through advanced systems biology approaches.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Genetics, Chinese Academy of Science (1998)

Research Focus: Dr. Lu's work centers on seed triacylglycerol biosynthesis and fatty acid regulation, employing molecular quantitative genetics, comparative genomics, and transgenic techniques to enhance oil yield and nitrogen utilization efficiency. His lab investigates seed size determination mechanisms and stress responses in camelina for sustainable agricultural applications.

Publication Trends: Recent publications demonstrate consistent innovation in camelina engineering, with 2024 breakthroughs in CRISPR-mediated seed color modification and acetyl-TAG accumulation. His work bridges fundamental lipid metabolism with practical biofuel applications, showing increasing emphasis on climate resilience and metabolic pathway optimization.

Advising & Funding: Dr. Lu mentors PhD candidates Samuel Decker and Brian Smith, graduate researcher Shreya Gautam, and postdoc Jianhui Zhang. He directs the $3.2M DOE-funded ECON project on nitrogen efficiency, USDA-supported Omega-3 fatty acid research, and UNL's B5 biofuels initiative, securing over $5M in competitive grants.

Laboratory Operations: Based in Plant Biosciences Building 314, his lab coordinates the 30-member ECON consortium spanning five institutions. The team integrates Genetics/Genomics, Physiology, and Plant-Microbe Interaction divisions to develop next-generation camelina varieties with enhanced oil content and minimal nitrogen requirements for Northwest U.S. cropping systems.