David Jackson

David Jackson, Ph.D., is a Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory studying genetic control of plant architecture and crop yields. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of East Anglia (1991) and leads research on stem cell regulation in maize. His work identifies genes controlling meristem size and develops genomic tools for crop improvement.

Research combines genetics, single-cell transcriptomics, and CRISPR engineering to investigate inflorescence development, plasmodesmata trafficking, and heterotrimeric G-protein signaling. Recent work characterizes phosphoinositol-mediated kernel row determination and dehydration-regulating micropeptides.

Publications establish conserved yield-enhancing genes across cereals and reveal bidirectional enhancers with domestication signatures. The Jackson Lab developed tissue-specific expression resources for maize research community.

Initiatives:

• MaizeCODE project for regulatory element annotation
• CRISPR editing of CLE genes for yield enhancement
• Partners for the Future high-school research program

Dr. Jackson collaborates globally on maize and rice genomics for food security.