Claude Walker Depamphilis

Claude Walker Depamphilis is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University. His research focuses on plant genomics, parasitic plants, evolutionary biology, and molecular genetics, with significant contributions to understanding host-parasite interactions and plant immunity.

Recent work includes studies on Theobroma cacao defense mechanisms against pathogens, plastome evolution in parasitic plants like Cuscuta and Convolvulaceae, and the development of gene atlases for crop resilience. He leads or collaborates on NSF-funded projects related to parasitic plant genomics, cacao immunity, and herbarium digitization.

Key research trends:

• Genomic adaptations in parasitic plants (e.g., gene loss, plastome reduction)
• Host-specific responses in agricultural pests
• Transcriptomic analysis of cacao development and disease resistance
• Evolutionary mechanisms in plant genomes

Grants & Projects include NSF funding for studies on parasitic plant genomes, plant immunity in perennial crops, and digitization of the Penn State Herbarium to contextualize ecological changes in the Mid-Atlantic region.