Owen Rowland is a Professor in the Department of Biology within the Faculty of Science at Carleton University. Holding a B.Sc. from the University of Alberta and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, he maintains an active research laboratory in the Nesbitt Biology Building where he investigates plant surface barriers and their role in environmental adaptation. His work bridges fundamental plant science with practical applications for agriculture and renewable resources. Dr. Rowland's research program focuses on understanding the biosynthesis and function of plant extracellular barriers composed of polymerized lipids and associated waxes, including cuticle, suberin, and sporopollenin. These protective interfaces are critical for plant survival under environmental stresses such as drought, salt stress, and pathogen attack. His laboratory employs molecular genetics, biochemical, cell biology, and genomic approaches, primarily using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system, with successful translation of findings to crop plants like Camelina sativa and Brassica napus . His research has significant implications for developing stress-tolerant crop varieties that can withstand changing climate conditions, as well as harnessing plant surface lipids as renewable resources that could replace petroleum products. The Rowland Lab is part of the international ICON consortium working to develop high-value plant oils to replace fossil oils in the global chemicals industry. His work spans from fundamental enzyme characterization to metabolic engineering of plants and microbes for bioproduct development. Dr. Rowland's publication record demonstrates consistent productivity with research spanning plant lipid metabolism, stress adaptation mechanisms, and metabolic engineering applications. His work shows a clear progression from fundamental discoveries about plant surface lipid biosynthesis to applied research with agricultural and industrial relevance, particularly in developing crops with enhanced drought tolerance and plants engineered to produce valuable lipid-based compounds. NSERC Discovery Grant NSERC Accelerator Grant Canadian Foundation for Innovation Ontario Research Fund France-Canada Research Fund Dr. Rowland has successfully mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. His laboratory has produced multiple PhD and MSc graduates, including Sollapura Vishwanath (first PhD graduate from his lab), Micaela Chacon, and others who have presented their work at national conferences and published in high-impact journals. He also actively involves undergraduate students in research through NSERC-USRA awards and honors thesis projects. The Rowland Lab maintains active collaborations with researchers at Michigan State University, Algoma University, and Bordeaux University (France), reflecting the international nature of plant lipid research. The laboratory has developed expertise in plant lipid analysis, molecular genetics, and metabolic engineering approaches that position it at the forefront of research on plant surface barriers and their applications.
