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Student Spotlight: ‘Plant Research Immediately Impacts People’

Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

CALS student researcher Maura Cuebas

Sep 13, 2018

Student Researcher Seeks Cleaner Biofuels

A CALS lab has found a few bacteria that may hold potential for turning plant matter into fuel – and doctoral student Mara Cuebas-Irizarry is taking the research further. 
Accumulation of the HOPS subunit VPS41 at the vacuole membrane where it overlaps with the membrane marker SYP22.

Aug 23, 2018

Plant Protein Complex Plays Larger Role Than Previously Known in Important Growth and Development Process

A little-studied plant cellular complex plays an essential role in a biological process – vacuole fusion – critical to plant growth and development, according to new research from North Carolina State University. The findings shed light on complex and important plant processes as well as on how plants may have adapted to respond to environmental signals. 
Image of Mycobacterium smegmatis phage MicroWolf; H. Hendricks, NC State Phage Hunters.

Jul 27, 2018

Intestinal Virus Study Shows Major Changes Associated With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Unexpected patterns emerged in the microbial and viral communities of mice with intestinal inflammation during a study that examined the intestinal tracts of diseased and healthy mice. Spearheaded by researchers at North Carolina State University, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Colorado, the study could lead to better understanding of potential causes and markers of inflammatory bowel disease. 
Irrigating a tobacco field

Jul 17, 2018

New Plant Sciences Research Projects Taking Shape

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences researchers and their partners near and far ramp up interdisciplinary plant research. Case in point: Researchers from NC State and three Danish universities have been working together to better understand plant-microbe interactions. 
Four flasks containing tiny brine shrimp

Jun 26, 2018

Fish Food

CALS postdoc Karen O’Connell studies the best ways to grow microalgae to feed tiny brine shrimp that could be the base of the food chain for higher-value farm-raised fish. 

Apr 25, 2018

Student Spotlight: For Abel Walker, Sustainability is Key to Living Well

Plant biology student Abel Walker looks outside his comfort zone as he prepares for life beyond his December 2018 graduation. 
Group shot of more than 20 students outside.

Apr 4, 2018

Cross Talk

NC State's Master of Microbial Biotechnology prepares students to work at the intersection of science, technology and business. 
Two researchers in chamber holding a tray of tomato seedlings of different heights.

Mar 15, 2018

Just-in-Time Tomatoes?

NC State scientists are exploring the molecular-level processes that cause tomatoes to ripen, and what they find could have big implications for a range of traits -- from flavor to firmness -- in fruit-bearing crops. 
red flower growing near water

Feb 22, 2018

‘Demographic Compensation’ May Not Save Plants Facing Climate Change

An in-depth look at how plants respond to climate change shows mixed results for the phenomenon of “demographic compensation” as a way for plants to avoid severe population declines. 
Woman with cassava plants in a greenhouse

Nov 27, 2017

Student Spotlight: ‘Plant Research Immediately Impacts People’

After a summer undergraduate research experience with a leading NC State plant scientist, Catherine Doyle was hooked. The Ph.D. student traveled to Tanzania to see the problems posed by cassava mosaic disease.