Richard Meilan

Forestry and Natural Resources

Professor of Molecular Tree Physiology

Phone

765.496.2287

Fax

765.494.9461

Office

PFEN Room G021E

Address

715 West State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907

Email

rmeilan@purdue.edu

Personal Website

Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Richard Meilan's website

Research Group - Ecology of Natural Systems, Forest Biology, Genetics

Facilities - Forest Ecology, Soils, and Silviculture Lab, Genetics Lab, John S. Wright Center, Molecular Tree Physiology Lab

Richard “Rick” Meilan is an Professor in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) at Purdue University. Rick received his B.S. (summa cum laude) in Forest Science from Humboldt State University (HSU) in 1983, his M.S. in Forestry from HSU in 1985, and a joint Ph.D. (with honors) in Botany (Physiology and Molecular Biology) and Forestry (Forest Biology) from Iowa State University in 1990. He worked four years as a Rockefeller Foundation post-doctoral research fellow before joining the faculty in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was on the faculty in the Forest Science Department at Oregon State University for nine years before coming to Purdue in October 2003.

The Meilan laboratory utilizes molecular tools to investigate the genetic mechanisms by which key aspects of tree growth and development are controlled. He is also attempting to domesticate and add value to various tree species by genetically engineering them to express genes that impart environmentally beneficial and commercially important traits. Active research projects include efforts to insert into poplar genes that affect cell-wall properties (e.g., lignin content and composition, and cellulose configuration); water-use efficiency; and poplar’s ability to remediate contaminated sites. In addition, he and his group are trying to identify genes that regulate the formation of figured wood and the initiation of lateral and adventitious roots.

Awards & Honors

(2015) Seed for Success Award. Office of the Provost, Purdue University.

(2014) Purdue Ag TEAM Award.

(2008) Editorial Board Member. Tree Physiology.

(2007) Seed for Success Award. Office of the Provost, Purdue University.

(2006) Exceptional Departmental Service Award. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.

(2005) Associate Director. NSF (I/UCRC) Center for Tree Genetics.

Patents

Meilan, R., Rubinelli, P. M., & Chuck, G. Using Corngrass1 to Engineer Poplar as a Bioenergy Crop. U.S. Patent No. US 9,334,505 B2. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Meilan, R. Poplar Tree Named "Curly Poplar". U.S. Patent No. PP17,525. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Selected Publications

Iqbal, J., Meilan, R., & Khan, B. (2019). Assessment of risk, extinction, and threats (natural and anthropogenic) to Himalayan yew in Pakistan. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Jeong, D., Tyner, W. E., Meilan, R., Brown, T. R., & Doering, O. C. (2018). Stochastic techno-economic analysis of electricity produced from poplar plantations in Indiana. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Nelson, N. D., Berguson, W. E., McMahon, B. G., Meilan, R., Smart, L., Gouker, F. E., . . . Buchman, D. (2019). Discovery of geographically robust hybrid poplar clones. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Nelson, N. D., Meilan, R., Berguson, W. E., McMahon, B. G., Cai, M., & Buchman, D. (2019). Growth performance of hybrid poplar clones on two agricultural sites and without early irrigation and fertilization. Silvae Genetica, 68(1), 58-66.

Yang, H., Benatti, M. R., Karve, R. A., Fox, A., Meilan, R., Carpita, N. C., & McCann, M. C. (2018). Rhamnogalacturonan I is a determinant of cell-cell adhesion in poplar wood. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Yang, H., Zhang, X., Luo, H., Liu, B., Shiga, T. M., Li, X., . . . Meilan, R. (2019). Overcoming cellulose recalcitrance in woody biomass for the lignin‑first biorefinery. Biotechnology for Biofuels, (12), 171. doi:10.1186/s13068-019-1503-y

Schutyser, W., Kruger, J. S., Robinson, A. M., Katahira, R., Brandner, D. G., Cleveland, N. S., . . . Beckham, G. T. (2018). Revisiting alkaline aerobic lignin oxidation. Green Chemistry, 20, 3828.

Zeng, Y., Zhao, S., Wei, H., Tucker, M. P., Himmel, M. E., Mosier, N. S., . . . Ding, S. Y. (2015). In situ micro-spectroscopic investigation of lignin in poplar cell walls pretreated by maleic acid. Biotechnology For Biofuels, 8, 126. doi:10.1186/s13068-015-0312-1

Buhl, C., Meilan, R., & Lindroth, R. L. (2017). Genetic Modification of Lignin in Hybrid Poplar (Populus alba x Populus tremula) Does Not Substantially Alter Plant Defense or Arthropod Communities. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE, 17(3). doi:10.1093/jisesa/iex052

Yordanov, Y. S., Ma, C., Yordanova, E., Meilan, R., Strauss, S. H., & Busov, V. B. (2017). BIG LEAF is a regulator of organ size and adventitious root formation in poplar. PLOS ONE, 12(7). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180527