Overview
Normal plant morphogenesis and environmental responses require integrating multiple signals to modulate auxin responsiveness, biosynthesis, transport, and storage forms. Auxin is a critical plant hormone, controlling both cell division and cell expansion and thereby orchestrating many developmental events and environmental responses. Our research focuses on a molecular understanding of auxin signaling, auxin homeostasis, and auxin crosstalk with other hormones. Understanding these molecular details will yield insight into strategies used by plants to alter growth in response to various environmental factors.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Professor of Biology
·
2023 - Present
Biology,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Associate Professor of Cell Biology
·
2022 - Present
Cell Biology,
Basic Science Departments
Recent Publications
Core biological principles and tools stemming from basic Arabidopsis research.
Journal Article The Plant cell · June 2025 The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana has been a cornerstone of research in plant biology, contributing transformative insights into fundamental biological processes across eukaryotes. In this vignette, we explore the role of Arabidopsis in elucidating immu ... Full text CiteIn defense of funding foundational plant science.
Journal Article The Plant cell · May 2025 Plants are essential for life as we know it on Earth. They oxygenate the atmosphere, regulate the climate, and comprise much of the primary producers underpinning complex food systems. In the 1980s, a multinational group of plant scientists chose the small ... Full text CiteFocus on Translational Research from Arabidopsis to Crop Plants and Beyond.
Journal Article The Plant cell · May 2025 Full text CiteRecent Grants
NSF Engines Type -1: Climate-Resilient Opportunities for Plant Systems (CROPS) Innovation Engine
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University · 2024 - 2026Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of General Medical Sciences · 2021 - 2026Collaborative Research: PlantSynBio: Identification and Design of Transcriptional Activation Domains Across Plant Species
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2021 - 2026View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Washington State University ·
2004
Ph.D.