معرفی
John Cushman is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). His research centers on plant molecular biology, biochemistry, and synthetic biology, with a strong emphasis on improving water-use efficiency and stress tolerance in crops through advanced biotechnological approaches.
Education:
- B.S., 1982, Ursinus College
- M.S., 1984, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
- Ph.D., 1986, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Research Interests:
Professor Cushman leads integrated projects that combine genomics, synthetic biology, and agronomy to develop climate-resilient crops. His work focuses on crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) engineering to enhance water-use efficiency in both C3 and C4 plants. He is internationally recognized for his efforts to domesticate Opuntia ficus-indica (cactus pear) as a high-productivity, low-water bioenergy feedstock and for improving Eragrostis tef (tef) for forage and gluten-free grain production under dryland conditions. Additional interests include dissecting the molecular basis of drought and salinity tolerance, engineering tissue succulence, and developing synthetic gene circuits to optimize CAM in major food, feed, and biofuel crops.
Funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station (NAES) supports large-scale field trials, life-cycle assessments, and public outreach programs.
Scientific Awards & Honors:
- AAAS Fellow (2022)
- Regents' Researcher Award (2017)
- Outstanding UNR Researcher Award (2013)
- Foundation Professor (2011–2013)
- Outstanding CABNR Researcher Award (2003)
Teaching & Mentoring:
Professor Cushman teaches graduate-level courses such as Scientific Communication Masterclass, Grant Writing for Molecular Biosciences, Molecular Genetics, Functional Genomics, Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, and Plant Biochemistry Colloquium. He actively welcomes students and postdoctoral researchers interested in plant molecular genetics, biochemistry, and synthetic biology to join his laboratory for training in abiotic stress tolerance and sustainable crop production systems.
Laboratory & Outreach:
His laboratory is located in the Howard Medical Sciences (HMS) building, Room 210b, at UNR. An innovative extension program disseminates research findings on cactus pear and CAM-based cropping systems to stakeholders in arid and semi-arid regions through public outreach and education initiatives.
