Edwin Stanton Gelvin

Dr. Stanton B. Gelvin is the Edwin Umbarger Distinguished Professor of Biology at Purdue University's Department of Biological Sciences. He leads research on Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation, focusing on T-DNA integration mechanisms and improving crop transformation. His work bridges molecular biology, genetics, and agricultural biotechnology.

Education: Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 1977.

Research Interests: Mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions, T-DNA trafficking and integration, and applications in genetic engineering. Key areas include understanding how Agrobacterium genetically modifies plants and developing technologies to enhance transformation efficiency in crops like corn and soybeans.

Grants & Collaborations:

• NSF-funded projects on T-DNA integration and CRISPR applications.
• USDA grants for sweetpotato breeding using CRISPR-associated proteins.
• Industry partnerships with companies like Dow AgroSciences, CTC Genomics, and SweTree Technologies.

Awards: Includes AAAS Fellowship, American Academy of Microbiology membership, and distinguished professorships.

Key Contributions: Identification of plant genes (e.g., histones, myb transcription factors) influencing transformation, development of VirD2 mutant strains for integration-free T-DNA delivery, and advancing Ensifer-mediated transformation as an Agrobacterium alternative.