Peter K Lundquist

Peter K Lundquist is Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Michigan State University (MSU) and Assistant Professor in the MSU Plant Resilience Institute. He is also a regular faculty member of the Molecular Plant Sciences Program and holds affiliations with Genetics & Genome Sciences and Cell & Molecular Biology graduate programs.

Education

• PhD in Plant Biology, Cornell University (2012)
• BS in Biochemistry and Agronomy, Kansas State University (2006)

Research Interests

The Lundquist Lab investigates plastoglobules—lipid droplets within plant plastids—focusing on their formation, regulation, and roles in plastid metabolism, stress perception, and tolerance. Employing biochemistry, proteomics, metabolomics, genetics, and advanced microscopy, the lab aims to bridge basic and translational research to enhance crop productivity and nutritional quality under environmental stresses.

Key objectives include:

• Elucidating plastoglobule morphogenesis and protein targeting mechanisms.
• Defining the dynamic plastoglobule interactome and its regulation.
• Engineering plastoglobule-localized pathways for bio-fortification and biofuel production.

Scientific Awards

• Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow (2013–2016)

Funding & Collaborations

Lundquist’s work is supported by federal grants and international collaborations, including postdoctoral training in Germany (Uni Düsseldorf) and the Noble Research Institute, Oklahoma. His lab participates in MSU’s interdisciplinary graduate programs and maintains active collaborations across plant biology, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry.

Laboratory & Teams

The Lundquist Lab is located in the Plant and Soil Sciences Building at MSU. It integrates graduate students and postdocs from multiple programs (Biomolecular Science, Genetics, Cell & Molecular Biology, Molecular Plant Sciences) and fosters cross-disciplinary research on plastid biology and crop resilience.