Posy Busby

Posy Busby is an Associate Professor in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University, affiliated with the College of Agricultural Sciences. Her research focuses on plant microbiome ecology, particularly plant-fungal interactions and their roles in disease dynamics and community ecology. She leads the Busby Lab, which investigates endophyte impacts on plant health and explores microbiome applications in sustainable agriculture and reforestation. Busby has secured grants from USDA-NIFA and participates in the Andrews Forest LTER grant leadership.

Her work integrates genomic and ecological approaches to study microbial community assembly, with recent emphasis on Populus and potato systems. Key research themes include host genotype influences on microbiome composition, priority effects in microbial colonization, and microbiome-mediated disease suppression. Collaborative projects, such as the continental-scale Populus mycobiome study with the Peay Lab, highlight her interdisciplinary approach.

Busby’s publications emphasize fungal diversity, pathogen interactions, and microbiome functionality. Notable contributions include defining mechanisms of microbiome-plant genotype interactions and identifying beneficial endophytic yeasts in Populus. Her work has been featured in Nature Microbiology, Current Biology, and Annual Review of Phytopathology, reflecting her impact on both fundamental and applied plant science.

• Grants & Leadership: USDA-NIFA grant (2020), Co-PI on Andrews Forest LTER8 (2022), NSF CAREER Award (2022)
• Labs/Teams: Busby Lab, part of the OSU Plant Pathology Program
• Future Work: Expanding microbiome applications in climate-resilient agriculture and forest health