Carolyn M Malmstrom

Carolyn M. Malmstrom is a Professor in the Department of Plant Biology at Michigan State University and a core faculty member in the Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior program. Her research focuses on plant-microbial ecology, virus interactions in grasslands, and implications for bioenergy crops.

• Ph.D., Plant Biology and Ecology, Michigan State University
• B.A., Biology, Boston University

Key research areas include:

• Eco-evolutionary dynamics of plant viruses in native and agricultural ecosystems
• Impact of viral infections on bioenergy crops like switchgrass
• Interactions between invasive species and native plant pathogen communities
• Application of high-throughput sequencing for virome discovery
• Ecological restoration strategies integrating disease management

Recent publications highlight her work on virus-mediated soil carbon dynamics, hop virome analysis, and multi-scale viral epidemiology. Her lab maintains collaborations across North America, Europe, and Africa.

Notable contributions:

• Developed molecular diagnostics for plant viruses
• Documented widespread wild virus infections in switchgrass
• Established links between plant traits and viral susceptibility
• Investigated agricultural land-use impacts on grassland viromes