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Wen Huang is an Associate Professor at the Michigan State University , affiliated with the BioMolecular Science Gateway Faculty and the Genetics & Genome Sciences Program . His research integrates genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics to study complex traits in Drosophila melanogaster and livestock species. Research Interests : Elucidating genetic architectures of quantitative traits Transposon dynamics and alternative splicing regulation Livestock genomics for agricultural improvement Publication Trends : Recent work focuses on genome-wide association studies (GWAS), telomere-to-telomere assemblies, and multi-omic analyses of gene regulation in pigs and Drosophila . Collaborative Initiatives : Co-leads large-scale projects like FarmGTEx and RT2T Consortium, aiming to improve functional annotation of animal genomes.

• Genetics
• Genomics
• Animal Science
• +5 more

Phil Bates is an Associate Professor at Washington State University (WSU), affiliated with the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) and the Department of Plant Sciences. His research focuses on plant lipid metabolism, specifically understanding fatty acid flux dynamics in storage and membrane lipids across diverse plant species such as Arabidopsis, soybean, canola, and Physaria fendleri. He employs biochemical, genetic, and omics approaches, including isotopic tracing, to identify metabolic bottlenecks and engineer designer oils for food, biofuel, and industrial applications. Bates holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University (2008). His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, with recent projects involving the Danforth Plant Science Center and the University of Alberta. He leads the Bates Lipid Lab, which investigates lipid remodeling mechanisms, stress responses, and metabolic reprogramming in oilseeds. Research interests include optimizing oilseed traits for biotechnological use, developing analytical methods for lipid quantification, and elucidating gene regulation in lipid biosynthesis pathways. His lab’s discoveries, such as the TAG remodeling mechanism in Physaria fendleri, advance efforts to produce industrially valuable oils with tailored fatty acid compositions. Despite no explicitly listed awards, his contributions to plant lipidomics and metabolic engineering are widely recognized in peer-reviewed journals. His outreach includes maintaining an active Bluesky profile and lab Facebook group, highlighting the lab’s scientific missions and challenges in lipid research.

• Plant Lipid Metabolism
• Fatty Acid Biosynthesis
• Bioenergy Crops
• +3 more

Posy Busby is an Associate Professor in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University, affiliated with the College of Agricultural Sciences. Her research focuses on plant microbiome ecology, particularly plant-fungal interactions and their roles in disease dynamics and community ecology. She leads the Busby Lab, which investigates endophyte impacts on plant health and explores microbiome applications in sustainable agriculture and reforestation. Busby has secured grants from USDA-NIFA and participates in the Andrews Forest LTER grant leadership. Her work integrates genomic and ecological approaches to study microbial community assembly, with recent emphasis on Populus and potato systems. Key research themes include host genotype influences on microbiome composition, priority effects in microbial colonization, and microbiome-mediated disease suppression. Collaborative projects, such as the continental-scale Populus mycobiome study with the Peay Lab, highlight her interdisciplinary approach. Busby’s publications emphasize fungal diversity, pathogen interactions, and microbiome functionality. Notable contributions include defining mechanisms of microbiome-plant genotype interactions and identifying beneficial endophytic yeasts in Populus. Her work has been featured in Nature Microbiology , Current Biology , and Annual Review of Phytopathology , reflecting her impact on both fundamental and applied plant science. Grants & Leadership: USDA-NIFA grant (2020), Co-PI on Andrews Forest LTER8 (2022), NSF CAREER Award (2022) Labs/Teams: Busby Lab, part of the OSU Plant Pathology Program Future Work: Expanding microbiome applications in climate-resilient agriculture and forest health

• Plant Microbiome Ecology
• Plant-Fungal Interactions
• Plant Disease
• +3 more

Scott A. Jackson is the Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Synthetic Biology at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Department of Crop & Soil Sciences. He holds adjunct professor roles in the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics. His research focuses on genomic tools for crop improvement, particularly in legumes like peanut and soybean, with emphasis on genome structure-function relationships and synthetic biology applications. Education and career highlights include his tenure as GRA Eminent Scholar in Plant Functional Genomics (2011–2019) and leadership roles in the Plant Center and Center for Applied Genetic Technologies. After industry experience with Bayer Crop Science, he returned to UGA to establish genomic-driven crop improvement programs. He is an Associate Editor of The Plant Journal and Molecular Plant . Research interests span genome evolution, crop domestication, and translating genomic insights into agricultural practices. His work bridges academia and industry, emphasizing sustainable crop productivity and global food security. Awards include the NSF Young Investigator Award (2002) and AAAS Fellowship. Key initiatives include developing genomic resources for legumes, leveraging synthetic biology for crop innovation, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. His lab focuses on disease resistance, genomic assembly, and applying advanced modeling to agricultural systems. Awards: NSF Young Investigator Award, AAAS Fellow Labs/Teams: Center for Applied Genetic Technologies (CAGT), Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG) Grants/Funding: GRA Eminent Scholar Program, industry partnerships

• Plant Genomics
• Crop Improvement
• Synthetic Biology
• +3 more

Cory Hirsch is an Associate Professor & Interim Department Head in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota , located in the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) . His lab focuses on Plant Stress Resistance Biology , leveraging genomic, transcriptomic, and phenomic approaches to understand plant responses to abiotic (e.g., extreme temperatures, salinity) and biotic (e.g., pathogens) stresses. Key research areas include microbiome interactions, pathogen resistance mechanisms, and precision phenotyping. He leads or collaborates on grants from USDA, Minnesota Soybean Council, and the University of Minnesota. Education: PhD and BS in Plant Breeding/Genetics and Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Hirsch Lab is based in Stakman Hall , with a focus on translational research bridging basic science and agricultural applications. Research Themes: The lab uses cutting-edge technologies to dissect genomic variation and gene expression dynamics in crops like maize, wheat, and sugar beet. Recent work includes transposable element roles in stress responses, hyperspectral imaging for disease detection, and machine learning for phenotyping. Projects emphasize understanding stress biology to enhance crop resilience. Grants & Collaborations: Notable projects include USDA-funded studies on transposable elements in maize abiotic stress, Minnesota Soybean Council support for soybean disease phenotyping, and collaboration with the Microbial and Plant Genomics Institute. These efforts aim to improve crop productivity and sustainability. Labs & Infrastructure: The lab is equipped with advanced phenotyping tools, including RGB/hyperspectral imaging systems and drone-based platforms. It collaborates with multiple departments and external institutions to advance integrative plant science.

• Plant Stress Resistance
• Abiotic Stress Biology
• Biotic Stress Responses
• +3 more

Dr. Feng (George) Yu is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Information Systems at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. He serves as the Campus Champion of NSF Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) at YSU and has been collaborating with XSEDE and Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center since 2014 to bring national workshop series on High-Performance Computing to YSU. Ph.D. in Computer Science, Southern Illinois University (2013) M.S. in Pure Mathematics, Shandong University (2008) B.S. in Information and Computation Science, Northeastern University (2005) Dr. Yu's primary research focuses on database management systems, particularly Approximate Query Processing (AQP) for big data analytics. His work spans multiple areas including Cloud Computing , Blockchain , NoSQL Databases , and Bioinformatics . His recent research has centered on error assessment for AQP using bootstrap sampling techniques, as evidenced by his 2024 publications AQPrius and Error Assessment for Multi-Join AQP . He has also made significant contributions to plant genomics through alternative splicing analysis in various crops. His publication trends show a consistent focus on query processing and optimization, with a recent shift toward more sophisticated error estimation techniques in approximate query processing. His work bridges theoretical database research with practical applications in bioinformatics and educational technology, as seen in his 2024 paper on computing curriculum accessibility for students with ASD. Best of QUEST 2024 Finalist (Faculty Advisor) Research Professorship (2023, 2022, 2019, 2018) Distinguished Professor in Scholarship (2020) Best Paper Award at International Conference on Software Engineering and Data Engineering (2019) Faculty Membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (2022) Dr. Yu actively mentors undergraduate researchers, having advised students including Govardhan Gula for the BEST of QUEST project on accelerating bootstrap resampling, and led a CREU-funded project on recommender systems with undergraduate researchers Alyssa Adams, Olivia Bindas, Maddie Cope, and Elizabeth Durflinger. His research has been supported by external funding sources including Amazon Inc. and the Computer Research Association. He directs the YSU Data Lab , which focuses on data-oriented sciences and operates multiple high-performance research clouds including Sarah Cloud and YSU STEM Cloud. The lab conducts cutting-edge research in approximate query processing, blockchain, and heterogeneous cloud infrastructure.

• Database Management Systems
• Query Processing and Optimization
• Approximate Query Processing
• +6 more

Dr. Nan Lu serves as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of North Texas (UNT), affiliated with the BioDiscovery Institute since September 2024. His research program focuses on plant specialized metabolism, with particular emphasis on condensed tannins and anthocyanins in agricultural crops. Dr. Lu's academic background includes: Bachelor of Biotechnology from Shandong Agricultural University (2008) Ph.D. in Horticulture from Virginia Tech (2013), supervised by Dr. Richard Veilleux His research employs integrated genetic, genomic, and biochemical approaches to decipher biosynthesis pathways of plant specialized metabolites. Key investigations include enzyme identification in condensed tannin and anthocyanin pathways, transcriptional regulatory mechanisms in crops, and engineering biopolymers in row crops like soybean and maize. This work bridges fundamental plant biochemistry with practical crop improvement applications. Recent publications (2021-2024) demonstrate significant contributions to understanding proanthocyanidin biosynthesis, revealing novel pathways such as an unconventional route in maize and exploring pathway flexibility across plant species. His work on transcriptional regulation in soybean and gene function in Medicago truncatula highlights translational potential for enhancing nutritional and agronomic traits. Dr. Lu actively recruits graduate students through UNT's Biology Graduate Program and serves as Principal Investigator on the current grant project 'Engineering condensed tannins in row crops' (Grasslanz Technology Limited, 12/1/2024-11/30/2026). He leads an independent research group at UNT's BioDiscovery Institute, building upon his postdoctoral training in Dr. Richard Dixon's laboratory where he investigated plant specialized metabolism.

• Plant Specialized Metabolism
• Condensed Tannins
• Anthocyanins
• +3 more

Million Tadege is a Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Oklahoma State University, part of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. He holds a B.Sc. in Biology from Asmara University (Eritrea), an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Wageningen University (Netherlands), and a Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology from the University of Bern (Switzerland). His postdoctoral research included work at CSIRO Plant Industry (Australia) and The Noble Research Institute (Oklahoma). Research Interests: Dr. Tadege's work focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying leaf blade development, photoperiod response in plants, and functional genomics in crop species like sorghum and chickpea. His lab generates deletion mutants to study gene function and improve crop traits. Current projects include understanding circadian rhythms, floral transition regulation, and improving forage quality through genetic engineering. Grants & Funding: He has secured funding for projects such as 'Understanding the Mechanism of STF and MWOX9 Antagonistic Interaction' and 'Development of Sorghum Deletion Mutant Resources.' Recent grants include NSF and USDA-sponsored studies on leaf development and stress resilience. Teaching: Dr. Tadege teaches advanced courses like 'Biotechnology in Plant Improvement' and supervises research projects in plant molecular biology. He has mentored numerous graduate students through thesis and independent research modules. Labs & Teams: His laboratory specializes in genetic and genomic approaches to study plant development and stress responses. Collaborations include work with international teams on legume genetics and functional genomics.

• Plant Molecular Biology
• Legume Genetics
• Functional Genomics
• +5 more

Dr. Jean-Michel Ane is the Kellet Professor of Bacteriology & Agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on plant-microbe symbiotic interactions, particularly nitrogen fixation in legumes and cereals. He leads the Plant-Microbe Symbiosis Lab and holds affiliations with the Microbiology Doctoral Training Program and Plant Breeding programs. Education B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Lyon (1995) M.S. Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Toulouse (1997) Ph.D. Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Toulouse (2002) Research Interests Dr. Ane's work bridges fundamental biology and agricultural applications. His lab studies molecular mechanisms of symbiosis in Medicago truncatula and crops like soybean and sorghum. Key areas include: Engineering nitrogen-fixing microbes for cereal crops Signal transduction in symbiotic signaling pathways Ecological roles of plant-microbe interactions Recent Article Trends His 2023-2025 publications emphasize synthetic biology approaches for nitrogen fixation, symbiotic signaling pathways, and applications in sustainable agriculture. Major themes include engineering diazotrophs, analyzing single-cell transcriptomes, and optimizing symbiotic systems for crops. Awards 2015 Vilas Mid-Career Investigator Award 2014 Rothermel Bascom Professorship 1998 French National Education Agrégation Grants & Advising Dr. Ane has secured major grants supporting symbiosis research. He mentors 2 graduate students and oversees a lab of postdocs/researchers including Burcu Alptekin, Rubens Diogo, and Junko Maeda. His work spans collaborative projects with institutions worldwide. Labs/Teams His lab operates in the Microbial Sciences Building, focusing on cutting-edge techniques like mass spectrometry imaging and synthetic biology to advance symbiotic research.

• Plant-Microbe Symbiotic Interactions
• Nitrogen Fixation
• Agricultural Sustainability
• +3 more

Dr. Susana Goggi is a Professor of Agronomy at Iowa State University, specializing in seed physiology and crop science. She holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy/Seed Science from Mississippi State University (1990), an M.S. from the same institution (1987), and a B.S. in Agronomic Engineering from Universidad de Buenos Aires (1983). Her research focuses on seed development physiology, seed quality enhancement, and strategies to mitigate environmental stresses in soybeans and corn. She has held academic roles at Iowa State since 1994, including Professor since 2017. Her research interests include seed longevity, dormancy, and germination, with recent projects addressing organic seed protectants, soybean genome fluidity, and frost damage effects. She teaches Agronomy/Horticulture 338 and Agron 538, and mentors students in her lab. Professional service includes leadership roles in the Crop Science Society of America and Association of Official Seed Analysts. Awards include the 2016 Crop Science Society of America Fellowship and 2019 Iowa Seed Association Honorary Membership. Her 15 most recent articles (2022–2008) span topics like corn yield optimization, biological seed coatings, and seed priming techniques. Current work emphasizes perennial groundcover integration and reducing outcrossing in maize through pollen management strategies.

• Seed Physiology
• Seed Quality
• Plant Genetics
• +5 more

Win Phippen is a tenured full Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics in the School of Agriculture at Western Illinois University, where he teaches courses in applied genetics, crop ecology, agricultural leadership, and plant breeding. His research focuses on agronomic and breeding improvement of new and alternative crops, with particular emphasis on pennycress domestication for commercial production. His educational background includes a Master of Science degree in plant breeding from Cornell University and a Doctor of Philosophy in the NewCrops breeding program from Purdue University. These qualifications underpin his expertise in crop domestication and genetic improvement. Dr. Phippen's research centers on developing pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) as a viable oilseed cash cover crop through germplasm collection, field evaluation, and controlled crosses. His work addresses critical challenges in cover crop adoption, including seed persistence, stress tolerance, and integration into corn-soybean rotations. He investigates how pennycress impacts soil health, carbon sequestration, and subsequent cash crop yields while developing domestication traits through conventional and genomic approaches. His extensive publication record reveals a dominant research trajectory focused on pennycress domestication, with significant contributions to understanding its agronomic performance, stress responses, and integration into sustainable farming systems. Recent work increasingly incorporates molecular techniques like CRISPR genome editing to accelerate domestication while examining ecological interactions and economic viability. As Project Director for major initiatives including the $10 million USDA-NIFA Coordinated Agriculture Project (IPREFER) and the DOE-IPReP grant, Dr. Phippen secures substantial funding to advance integrated pennycress research. These projects support field trials, genomic studies, and extension activities aimed at enabling farm and energy resilience through alternative crop systems. He directs the Alternative Crops Research Program and the Pennycress Resource Network at Western Illinois University, coordinating multi-institutional collaborations that include the IPReP Summer Internship program. These initiatives connect researchers, farmers, and industry partners to accelerate the commercialization of pennycress and other alternative crops for biofuels and sustainable agriculture applications.

• Plant Breeding
• Genetics
• Alternative Crops
• +5 more

Dr. Meixia Zhao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Cell Science at the University of Florida. Previously, she held positions at Miami University (2018–2022) and was a postdoctoral researcher at Purdue University (2013–2017). She earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, with a visiting PhD in Plant Genetics at Purdue University. Her research focuses on using computational and functional genomic approaches to study genome evolution, epigenetic regulation of meiotic recombination, and plant-microorganism interactions in maize and soybean. Key areas include transposable element function, epigenetic silencing mechanisms, and disease resistance pathways. Her lab investigates mechanisms underlying maize and soybean immunity to pathogens like Phytophthora sansomeana , leveraging comparative genomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics. Recent studies explore the role of DNA methylation, small RNAs, and histone modifications in regulating plant defense responses. She also examines sex-specific differences in meiotic recombination and the evolutionary consequences of polyploidization. Dr. Zhao has mentored over 20 graduate and undergraduate students, including those in the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (PMCB) program. Her work has been published in high-impact journals, focusing on topics like transposable element silencing, epigenetic variation, and crop disease resistance. The Zhao Lab collaborates with other groups to advance understanding of plant-microbe interactions and translational applications in agriculture.

• Genome Evolution
• Epigenetics
• Plant-Microbe Interactions
• +4 more

Yucheng Feng is Professor of Soil Microbiology in Auburn University's Department of Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture. Researches soil-plant-microbe interactions with focus on sustainable agriculture. Primary interests include soil health assessment, nutrient management (nitrogen/sulfur cycling), microbial source tracking in watersheds, and climate-smart practices like biochar application and cover cropping. Field studies emphasize US Coastal Plain ecosystems. Recent publications (2021-2025) predominantly address soil management (40%), microbial ecology (30%), and drought adaptation (20%). Emerging themes include DNA-based pollution tracing and circular economy approaches using agricultural waste. Laboratory based in Funchess Hall. Collaborates with Alabama Cooperative Extension on soil health initiatives.

• Soil Microbiology
• Nutrient Cycling
• Soil Health
• +1 more

Jenny Koebernick is an Associate Professor in Cotton & Soybean Breeding at Auburn University’s College of Agriculture, within the Department of Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences. Her work focuses on genetic improvement of cotton and soybean crops, with particular emphasis on disease resistance, seed quality traits, and sustainable agricultural practices. Her research integrates genomic technologies like genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and molecular diagnostics to address challenges such as Cercospora leaf blight, Corynespora cassiicola, and Cotton Leafroll Dwarf Virus (CLRDV). She collaborates on strategic plans for soybean genomics research and develops germplasm lines with enhanced agronomic traits. Recent studies explore interactions between genotype, environment, and management practices, including nutrient efficiency and pest/disease dynamics. Her work spans crop physiology, precision agriculture technologies, and extension efforts to improve Alabama’s agricultural productivity. Key contributions include optimizing cottonseed oil content, refining soybean test weight metrics, and advancing understanding of 65-year yield trends in U.S. cotton production. She leads interdisciplinary efforts to address CLRDV transmission and blueberry stem blight in Alabama’s agroecosystems.

• Plant Breeding
• Genetics
• Agricultural Science
• +3 more

Abdul Latif Khan is an Assistant Professor of Biotechnology in the Department of Engineering Technology at the Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston. He holds a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Kyungpook National University (South Korea) and has extensive international experience, including roles as Associate Professor at the University of Nizwa (Oman) and Research Assistant Professor in medicinal plant research. His research focuses on plant-microbiome interactions, stress tolerance mechanisms, and agricultural biotechnology, particularly in crop improvement under environmental challenges like flooding, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity. He leads the Microbiome and Genomics Lab, studying microbiome dynamics, genomic sequencing of plants (e.g., Boswellia, date palm), and the role of silicon and phytohormones in plant resilience. Dr. Khan has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed articles, with recent work on microbiome diversity under climate stress, algal biomass applications, and silicon-mediated stress tolerance. He serves on editorial boards of journals like Journal of Plant Growth Regulation and Frontiers in Plant Sciences . His lab collaborates globally, including visiting positions at the University of Nebraska and Kyungpook National University. Key research themes include genomic analysis of invasive species, phytohormone regulation, and sustainable agriculture through microbial and genomic innovations.

• Biotechnology
• Plant Physiology
• Environmental Sciences
• +6 more