معرفی
Barbara Kunkel is a Professor of Biology and Associate Chair of Undergraduate Education at Washington University in St. Louis, affiliated with the Department of Biology in the College of Arts & Sciences. She holds a PhD from Harvard University and has been a faculty member since 1994. Her research focuses on bacterial plant pathogens, particularly Pseudomonas syringae, and their interactions with plant hosts like Arabidopsis thaliana. Key areas include pathogen virulence mechanisms, plant hormone biology (e.g., auxin and jasmonate), and defense responses.
Her work has revealed how pathogens manipulate host hormonal pathways to promote disease. She has received notable awards, including AAAS Fellow (2020), Packard Foundation Fellow (1996–2003), and teaching accolades like the David Hadas Award (2016). She has mentored numerous students and directed programs such as the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Her lab investigates how auxin and other hormones influence pathogen virulence and plant defense. Recent studies highlight the dual role of auxin in both promoting and resisting infections. Kunkel’s contributions to gender equity in science are recognized through her advocacy and mentorship, as highlighted in her AAAS interview.
