Robert VanBuren

Robert VanBuren is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, where he also holds an appointment at the Plant Resilience Institute. His research integrates genomics, quantitative genetics, and evolutionary biology to decode plant adaptations for crop improvement.

Education:

• PhD in Plant Biology from the University of Illinois (2014), focusing on plant sex chromosome evolution under Ray Ming
• NSF Plant Genome Postdoctoral Fellow at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (2014-2016), investigating drought-induced CAM photosynthesis with Todd Mockler

Dr. VanBuren's work centers on the genetic mechanisms of desiccation tolerance and CAM photosynthesis in resurrection plants, using orphan crops like tef and finger millet alongside major cereals (maize, sorghum). His lab employs high-throughput phenotyping, computational modeling, and systems biology to map stress responses across controlled environments and fields, aiming to develop climate-resilient crops through targeted genomic interventions. Recent focus includes polyploidy effects on stress tolerance and machine learning applications for trait prediction.

Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in desiccation tolerance evolution, convergent adaptation in grasses, and orphan crop genomics. Key methodologies include topological data analysis for gene expression patterns, CRISPR-based trait development, and community-driven standardization of drought response datasets, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach bridging computational and plant sciences.

Scientific Awards:

• NSF Plant Genome Postdoctoral Fellowship

Dr. VanBuren leads the VanBuren Lab with funding from NSF and MSU initiatives, including a 'Grand Challenge' grant addressing plant biology frontiers. His mentoring includes graduate students and international collaborations, exemplified by a US-Mexico computational plant science course. The lab actively develops genomic resources for underutilized crops while investigating core stress response pathways across flowering plants.

The VanBuren Lab operates within MSU's Plant Resilience Institute infrastructure, utilizing advanced phenomics facilities for greenhouse, growth chamber, and field studies. Current projects integrate machine learning with multi-omics data to model drought responses in C4 cereals, with strong emphasis on translational applications for food security in climate-vulnerable regions.