Georg Jander

Georg Jander is the George L. McNew Distinguished Scientist at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Section of Plant Biology within Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science. His research spans multiple graduate fields including Plant Biology, Entomology, and Plant Breeding.

Dr. Jander's research focuses on the genetic and biochemical mechanisms mediating plant interactions with insect herbivores. His laboratory investigates natural variation in insect resistance, novel defense-related plant metabolites, and the genes and enzymes involved in their biosynthesis. Current research projects include maize-insect interactions (particularly with corn leaf aphids), Arabidopsis-aphid interactions, and the biosynthesis of cardiac glycosides in wallflowers and milkweeds. His work has significant implications for agricultural pest management and understanding plant defense evolution.

Analysis of Dr. Jander's recent publications reveals a strong focus on plant chemical defenses, particularly specialized metabolites like benzoxazinoids in maize and cardiac glycosides in wallflowers and milkweeds. His research increasingly incorporates advanced genomic and metabolomic approaches, with growing emphasis on the co-evolution of plant defenses and insect counter-adaptations. Recent work shows particular interest in RNA interference techniques for pest control and the ecological functions of plant secondary metabolites.

• AAAS Fellow (2012)
• $1 million NSF EDGE award (2017) to develop genomic tools for studying milkweed
• DARPA Insect Allies Award for the VIPER project (Viruses and Insects as Plant Enhancement Resources)

Dr. Jander has successfully secured substantial research funding including NSF and DARPA grants. His laboratory actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students through BTI's Plant Genome Research Program and other internship opportunities. The Jander lab maintains strong collaborative relationships with researchers worldwide, including Tobias Züst at the University of Bern for cardiac glycoside research. His work bridges fundamental plant science with practical agricultural applications, particularly in developing novel pest resistance strategies.

The Jander lab operates within the Boyce Thompson Institute, a premier plant science research center affiliated with Cornell University. His team includes postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and technicians working across multiple projects focused on plant-insect interactions. The laboratory utilizes advanced techniques including genetic mapping, mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling, virus-induced gene silencing, and in vitro enzyme assays to investigate plant defense mechanisms.