Samuel P. Hazen

Samuel P. Hazen is a Professor and Director of Interdepartmental Graduate Programs in the Department of Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research focuses on regulatory genomics of plant growth, with particular emphasis on cell wall biosynthesis in model plant systems including Arabidopsis thaliana and Brachypodium distachyon.

Dr. Hazen's research interests center on understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying plant cell wall biosynthesis and natural genetic variation leading to differences in cell wall phenotypes. His work bridges fundamental plant biology with applications in bioenergy, exploring how cell wall properties affect both crop health and suitability as livestock feed or biofuel feedstock. He investigates transcription factors that control growth and differentiation processes and their regulation of glycosyltransferases and phenylpropanoid metabolism.

His research group employs systems-level approaches using model plant resources including fully sequenced genomes, whole genome tiling arrays, cDNA collections, and mutant populations. Recent work has examined temperature signals in grass secondary cell wall development, mechanical induction of cell wall genes, and regulatory networks in bioenergy crops. The lab maintains active collaborations across multiple institutions and has produced numerous high-impact publications in plant science journals.

Dr. Hazen has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, and government research institutions. His lab website highlights current research on cell wall growth regulation, natural genetic diversity, and plant-microbe rhizosphere interactions.