We strive to advance basic understanding of fundamental questions in biology and meet applied needs in fields such as genetically modified plants, sustainable biofuel production, environmental pollution, and endangered species.

Our research covers a broad range of disciplines, including cell and molecular biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, ethnobotany and microbiology. And our faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for their work.

We believe in the power of collaborative research, and many of our research projects engage faculty from throughout the university.

Cell and molecular biology of plants and microbes is a major focus area for the department, with 20 of our faculty members engaged in this research area.

Their projects cover a range of topics, including plant cell biology, development, and structure; plant and microbe molecular biology; biochemistry, phytochemistry, metabolomics and proteomics; genetics, genomics and systems biology; genetic engineering of plants and microbes, biotechnology and bioprocessing; and plant-microbe interactions.

Faculty Researchers

Ten faculty members are involved in microbiology research in areas such as microbial biotechnology; bioremediation; microbial metabolism, genomics and proteomics; bacteriophage; extremophiles; and plant-fungal and plant-virus interactions.

Faculty Researchers

 

We support a unique focus in ethnobotany, the interdisciplinary study of the relationships between plants and people. Areas of interest include medicinal plants, edible plants, and other plants with cultural uses or significance.

Faculty Researchers