CPB RESEARCH FACULTY

Faculty

The strength of the Center for Plant Biology (CPB) comes from the scientific expertise of its members. CPB faculty are some of the top experts in their fields. Though they are located in eight departments across three colleges, CPB faculty are united by their efforts to advance fundamental understanding of plant biology, spanning scales from molecules to ecosystems.

faculty (a thru f)

Leonor Boavida

Leonor Boavida

Botany & Plant Pathology
Asst Professor Botany & Plant Pathology

Our research:

We use genetic, cell biology, biochemical, proteomic, and functional genomics tools to investigate processes regulating:

  1. Development and biology of plant gametes.
  2. Signal transduction pathways in gamete recognition and double fertilization.
  3. Contribution of sperm cell factors to egg activation.
Clint Chapple

Clint Chapple

Biochemistry
Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry

Our research uses:

  1. Lignin biosynthesis and its manipulation in the context of biofuel production.
  2. The role of specific genes and gene families encoding enzymes of phenylpropanoid metabolism.
  3. The application of mass spectrometry and genome wide association to elucidate new pathways of metabolism.

Social Media:

Linkedin

X (Twitter)

Zhixiang Chen

Zhixiang Chen

Botany & Plant Pathology
Professor
John Couture

John Couture

Entomology
Assoc Prof Entomology/Forestry & Nat Res
Brian Dilkes

Brian Dilkes

Biochemistry
Professor
Natalia Doudareva

Natalia Doudareva

Biochemistry
Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry Horticulture & Landscape Architecture

Our research:

We use an integrative approach including functional genomics, genetics, metabolomics, proteomics, cell biology, and enzymology combined with in vivo stable isotope labeling and computer-assisted metabolic flux modeling to elucidate:

  1. Biosynthetic pathways, genes, and enzymes responsible for the formation of primary and secondary metabolites in plants.
  2. Molecular processes involved in the release of plant volatile compounds into the atmosphere.
  3. Molecular mechanisms involved in plant-plant and inter-organ communication, specifically in volatile perception and signaling cascades leading to cellular responses.
Morgan Furze

Morgan Furze

Botany & Plant Pathology
Assistant Professor

Our research:

We integrate physiology, ecology, and evolution to understand carbon dynamics in woody plants, including:

  1. the storage and use of carbohydrate reserves.
  2. the role of carbohydrate reserves in the response to abiotic and biotic stress.

Lab Website:

www.morganfurze.com

faculty (g thru l)

Stanton Gelvin

Stanton Gelvin

Department of Biological Sciences
Edwin Umbarger Distinguished Professor of Biology

Our research:

Our laboratory uses microbial and plant genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, genomics, and imaging techniques to investigate:

  1. Agrobacterium and plant genes important for plant genetic transformation.
  2. Mechanism of Agrobacterium T-DNA transfer to plants, intracellular movement of T-DNA and virulence effector proteins, and T-DNA integration into the plant genome.
  3. Development of new Agrobacterium strains and transformation protocols to enhance transformation efficiency and the quality of transformation events.
Avtar Handa

Avtar Handa

Horticulture & Landscape Architecture
Professor
Anjali Iyer-Pascuzzi

Anjali Iyer-Pascuzzi

Botany & Plant Pathology
Professor
Sharon Kessler

Sharon Kessler

Botany & Plant Pathology
Associate Professor
Ying Li

Ying Li

Horticulture & Landscape Architecture
Associate Professor
Damon Lisch

Damon Lisch

Botany & Plant Pathology
Associate Professor
Xing Liu

Xing Liu

Biochemistry
Assistant Professor

faculty (m thru s)

Jianxin Ma

Jianxin Ma

Department of Biological Sciences
Edwin Umbarger Distinguished Professor of Biology

Our research:

Our research mainly focuses on the following areas:

  1. Genetic and molecular dissection of soybean traits underlying plant productivity and environmental resilience.
  2. Soybean germplasm enhancement through genetic transformation and genome editing.
  3. Genome duplication-mediated and transposon-triggered genome innovation.
Scott McAdam

Scott McAdam

Botany & Plant Pathology
Associate Professor

Our research:

We mainly focus on the following areas:

  1. Stomatal responses to the environment have evolved.
  2. Hormones control plant water use.
  3. Plants protect the xylem from embolism formation.
Tesfaye Mengiste

Tesfaye Mengiste

Michael Mickelbart

Michael Mickelbart

Botany & Plant Pathology
Professor

Our research:

  1. Physiological acclimation of plants to a changing climate.
  2. Traits that underlie crop resilience to dynamic abiotic conditions.
  3. The genetic bases for these acclimation responses.
John Morgan

John Morgan

Davidson School of Chemical Engineering
Professor

Our research:

  1. Metabolic Engineering of Cyanobacteria for Essential Amino Acids.
  2. Modeling Plant volatile synthesis and emission fluxes.
  3. Mathematical modeling of photosynthetic organisms.
Sergio Muñoz-Gómez

Sergio Muñoz-Gómez

Biology
Assistant Professor of Biology

Our research:

Our research aims to understand the drivers of major innovations and transitions in cell evolution. We use phylogenetically disparate unicells to answer our research questions, and rely on an interdisciplinary approach that combines experiments, large-scale data analysis, and theory. Some of our current projects address the:

  1. Ecological drivers of photosynthetic symbioses.
  2. Physiological contribution of mitochondria and phagocytosis to eukaryotic evolution.
  3. Energetic costs of new genes and cellular complexity 4-word descriptor: Evolution of cellular novelties.

Social Media:

X (Twitter)

Lab Websites:

Google Scholar
ecsolab.com

Chris Oakley

Chris Oakley

Davidson School of Chemical Engineering
Professor

Our research:

  1. Genetic and physiological mechanisms of the costs and benefits of cold acclimation.
  2. Genotype by environment interactions for other ecologically important traits.
  3. Heterosis and epistasis for fitness.

Social Media:

@quercus62.bsky.social

Lab Website:

https://btny.purdue.edu/labs/oakley/

Joseph Ogas

Joseph Ogas

Biochemistry
Department Head & Professor of Biochemistry
Daniel Park

Daniel Park

Department of Biological Sciences
Assistant Professor
Sujith Puthiyaveetil

Sujith Puthiyaveetil

Biochemistry
Associate Professor of Biochemistry

Our research:

  1. Genetic and molecular control mechanisms of photosynthetic light use.

Chris Staiger

Chris Staiger

Biochemistry
Professor of Botany and Plant Pathology/Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences
Daniel Szymanski

Daniel Szymanski

Botany & Agronomy
Professor

faculty (t thru z)

Kranthi Varala

Kranthi Varala

Horticulture & Landscape Architecture
Assistant Professor
Joshua Widhalm

Joshua Widhalm

Horticulture & Landscape Architecture
Deputy Director for the Center for Plant Biology and Associate Professor

Our research:

  1. Study the evolution and metabolism of quinones (e.g. ubiquinone, vitamin K1, and juglone) in plants.
  2. Investigate the functions and mechanisms of action of specialized quinones.
  3. Design synthetic biology strategies to harness plant quinones for human health and agriculture.

Social Media:

Linkedin

Gyeong Mee  Yoon

Gyeong Mee Yoon

Botany & Plant Pathology
Associate Professor

Our research:

  1. Spatiotemporal regulation of ethylene signaling pathways
  2. Regulatory mechanisms controlling ethylene biosynthesis
  3. Crosstalk between ethylene and environmental stress responses.
Cankui Zhang

Cankui Zhang

Agronomy
Associate Professor
Lei Zhang

Lei Zhang

Botany & Plant Pathology
Assistant Professor
Yun Zhou

Yun Zhou

Agronomy
Associate Professor