{"id":2042,"date":"2017-11-24T22:47:31","date_gmt":"2017-11-25T03:47:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology-new\/?page_id=2042"},"modified":"2026-04-02T10:52:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:52:07","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Department"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Dedicated to Your Success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Collaboration is the foundation of the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology (PMB). We foster strong ties with a number of other departments across the college and beyond to give our students the best possible education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We focus on the biology of plants and of microorganisms, while partnering with the College of Sciences<\/a> to support graduate and undergraduate programs in Biological Sciences, Microbiology, and Genetics. Our department also offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Plant Biology, as well as our interdepartmental Microbiology graduate degrees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our department is internationally-recognized, with faculty who have won numerous awards for teaching and scholarly excellence<\/a>. And our graduates go on to distinguish themselves in careers<\/a> in academia, government, industry, and environmental and public service organizations. We are committed to student success, and it shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aurora Toennisson, a Ph.D student studying plant and microbial biology, is working on a plant biology project funded by NASA through the NC Space Grant. Photo by Marc Hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mission Statement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Plant and Microbial Biology develops knowledge to create social and economic prosperity and well-being through agricultural and life science discovery, learning, and engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We empower students to address critical needs for the 21st century through the lens of plant and microbial biology, while promoting responsible applications of research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We foster a diverse* and collaborative community of students, scholars, educators, and community members who come together to address major scientific and environmental challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Core Values<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We strive to create a climate that enhances the well-being and sense of belonging of all members of the Department, by encouraging all to contribute enthusiastically to our shared goals and vision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We cultivate a culture of strong collegiality, by supporting faculty, staff and students from all backgrounds. We believe that diverse perspectives of opinion, thought and life experience are critical for the work we do. The department is dedicated to welcoming and serving individuals of all backgrounds and fostering a working environment where all employees feel welcomed and respected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We strive to stimulate curiosity and innovation in our research, teaching, and extension efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We seek to inspire ourselves and others to establish a practice of life-long learning, improvement, and service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We promote collaboration and synergistic teamwork that is grounded in mutual respect and equality of opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We support the growth and professional development of students, faculty and staff through education and intentional mentoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We work to maintain ethical and fair practices in the service to our goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*<\/sup> Diverse here refers to the ways in which individuals vary, including, in their backgrounds, beliefs, viewpoints, abilities, cultures and traditions.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n

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Cutting-Edge Research<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Research in our department covers a broad array of plant biology and microbiology disciplines, as well as model plants and microorganisms, plants and microbes found in natural ecosystems, and agriculturally important crop plants. <\/p>\n\t \t \n

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Top-Notch Academic Programs<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

We offer undergraduate and graduate programs in plant biology and microbiology, collaborating with other departments across NC State to provide our students with the very best education. <\/p>\n\t \t \n

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Impact through Outreach<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

We engage people of all ages to better understand the impact that plants and microbes have on all our lives.<\/p>\n\t \t \n

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Our Roots Run Deep<\/h2>

Plant Biology and Microbiology have been part of NC State since the University’s inception. Today, the discipline of microbiology is represented in both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Sciences.

Special thanks to former professor Dr. James Troyer, who assembled a detailed history of Plant Biology at NC State.<\/p>\n

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People<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Our department is internationally-recognized, and our faculty members have won numerous awards for teaching and scholarly excellence. <\/p>\n\t \t \n

Get to know us \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n\n

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Contact Us <\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

We’re here to answer any questions you may have about our department, from academics to outreach. Feel free to reach out, and we’ll be in touch with you very soon. <\/p>\n\t \t \n

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Alumni and Giving<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

We are family – the WolfPack – and we want you to stay connected to everything going on in the department. There are plenty of ways to lend support — and no gift is ever too small. <\/p>\n\t \t \n

Support our Department \n \n \n <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n\n

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International Programs<\/h3>\n \n\n \t \t

Our faculty members are engaged in projects across the globe. We offer plenty of international opportunities, like study abroad, to our students. <\/p>\n\t \t \n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dedicated to Your Success Collaboration is the foundation of the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology (PMB). We foster strong ties with a number of other departments across the college and beyond…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/floating-box-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"pageIntro\":\"We focus on the foundations of life. <\/br>Join us and dig deep. \",\"backgroundColor\":\"gray_800\",\"boxPosition\":\"right\",\"ctaNum\":\"one\",\"useCTA\":false,\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2018\/02\/about.jpg\",\"imageID\":3671}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-2042","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2042","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2042"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2042\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35273,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2042\/revisions\/35273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/plant-and-microbial-biology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}