Plant Biology faculty and research

Faculty associated with the Plant Biology Intercollege Graduate Degree Program at Penn State, together with a summary of their research interests in plant biology. Faculty are listed in alphabetical order of last name. To see more information about a faculty member, click on his/her name.

Photo Name E-mail / phone Interests include
Anderson, Charles "Charlie"
  • Assistant Professor, Biology
cta3@psu.edu
814-863-4736
   (University Park)

Research interests:  In vivo imaging of plant cell wall dynamics - Molecular genetic analysis of genes involved in cell growth - Cell wall biosynthesis in dividing cells - Cell wall engineering for sustainable bioenergy production.
Arteca, Richard
  • Professor of Horticultural Physiology
rna@psu.edu
814-863-2252
   (University Park)

Plant responses to externally applied stimuli with emphasis on plant hormones, touch and gravity.
Assmann, Sarah "Sally"
  • Waller Professor of Biology
sma3@psu.edu
814-863-9579
   (University Park)

Molecular biology of plant G-proteins and kinases. Phytohormone regulation of signal transduction and RNA processing. Second messenger regulation of ion channels in plant cells.
Axtell, Michael "Mike"
  • Associate Professor of Biology
mja18@psu.edu
814-867-0241
   (University Park)

Discovery and characterization of plant microRNAs and siRNAs. Functions of microRNAs and siRNAs in the evolution of plant development. Genomics and bioinformatics of microRNAs, siRNAs, and their targets.
Berghage, Robert
  • Associate Professor of Horticulture
rdb4@psu.edu
814-863-2190
   (University Park)

Environmental plant physiology. Controlled and modified environments for plant growth. Eco-roofs, rooftop greening, and other uses of plants in distributed stormwater management systems.
Bevilacqua, Philip "Phil"
  • Professor of Chemistry
  • Co-Director, Center for RNA Molecular Biology
pcb@chem.psu.edu
814-863-3812
   (University Park)

Roles of RNA-binding proteins in plant physiology. Plant ribonomics. Identification and characterization of functional RNAs in plants.
Brown, Kathleen
  • Professor of Postharvest Physiology
kbe@psu.edu
814-863-2260
   (University Park)

Ethylene biology. Regulation of root development. Root responses to edaphic stress. Identification and mapping of traits for adaptation to edaphic stress.
Brown, Nicole
  • Associate Professor of Wood Chemistry
nrb10@psu.edu
814-865-7423
   (University Park)

Adhesives; wood composites; cellulosic materials, bacterial cellulose, polymer science; chemistry of wood biopolymers; and other chemical treatments of wood.
Bryant, Donald
  • Ernest C. Pollard Professor of Biotechnology
  • Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
dab14@psu.edu
814-865-1992
   (University Park)

Photosynthesis, structure-function relationships of proteins, gene regulation, and microbial physiology. Cyanobacteria and green sulfur bacteria. Genomics of photosynthetic bacteria.
Carlson, John
  • Professor of Molecular Genetics, School of Forest Resources
jec16@psu.edu
814-863-9164
   (University Park)

Molecular genetics, genomics and biotechnology of woody plants related to development, environmental stress, carbon sequestration and genome organization.
Catchmark, Jeffrey
  • Associate Professor of Ag and Bio Engineering
jmc102@psu.edu
814-863-0414
   (University Park)

Cellulose synthesis and organization, cellulosic composites and coatings, microbial cellulose production, and chemically powered microfluidic and biological devices and sensors.
Chopra, Surinder
  • Associate Professor of Maize Genetics, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
sic3@psu.edu
814-865-1159
   (University Park)

Regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis during plant development and plant-pathogen interaction. Epigenetic regulation and allele specific patterns.
Cosgrove, Daniel "Dan"
  • Eberly Chair and Professor of Biology
dcosgrove@psu.edu
814-863-3892
   (University Park)

Mechanism of plant growth. Function and evolution of expansins. Biochemistry and rheology of plant cell walls. Growth responses to light, hormones, and water stress and other stimuli.
Curtis, Wayne
  • Professor of Chemical Engineering
wrc2@psu.edu
814-863-4805
   (University Park)

Regulation and signal transduction in plant secondary metabolism. Phytoremediation of hydrocarbons. Commercial chemical production in plants and plant tissue culture.
Cyr, Richard
  • Professor of Biology
rjc8@psu.edu
814-865-6416
   (University Park)

Plant cell and developmental biology. Biochemical, genetic, molecular genetic and cell biology of the cytoskeleton. Mitosis, with emphasis on spindle assembly.
De Moraes, Consuelo
  • Professor of Entomology
czd10@psu.edu
814-863-2867
   (University Park)

Ecology. Chemical ecology. Tritrophic interactions. Chemical Communication. Plant signaling. Plant-insect-interactions. Plant-Plant interactions. Plant defenses.
dePamphilis, Claude
  • Professor of Biology
cwd3@psu.edu
814-863-6412
   (University Park)

Genomics, bioinformatics, and molecular evolution. Origin and diversification of flowers & developmental pathways. Comparative genomics of plants, organelles, & plant gene families. Genomics and evolution of parasitic plants.
Eissenstat, David
  • Professor of Woody Plant Physiology
  • Chair, Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
dme9@psu.edu
814-863-3371
   (University Park)

Plant physiological ecology. Root biology and physiology. Plant carbon and nutrient economies.
Foolad, Majid
  • Professor of Plant Genetics, Department of Horticulture
mrf5@psu.edu
814-865-5408
   (University Park)

Genetic characterization of resistance/tolerance to biotic/abiotic stresses, and genes/QTLs contributing to tomato fruit quality. Investigation of genes/QTLs for directed crop improvement and germplasm enhancement. Tomato cultivar development & release.
Golbeck, John
  • Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics
  • Professor of Chemistry
jhg5@psu.edu
814-865-1163
   (University Park)

Light reactions in photosynthesis. Structure and function of photosystem I and the heliobacterial reaction center. Regulation and bioassembly of iron-sulfur clusters in cyanobacteria and plants. Plant and bacterial metalloproteins. Generation using Photosystem I, hydrogenase, and molecular wire technology
Gu, Ying
  • Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
yug13@psu.edu
814-867-3827
   (University Park)

Mechanism of cellulose biosynthesis in higher plants. Genetic modification of plant cell wall to scale-up biofuel production.
Guiltinan, Mark
  • Professor of Plant Molecular Biology, Department of Horticulture
mjg9@psu.edu
814-863-7957
   (University Park)

Plant molecular and developmental biology. Starch biosynthesis. Tropical plant biotechnology. Plant-pathogen interactions. Biofuel feedstock production.
Huff, David R.
  • Associate Professor of Turfgrass Breeding and Genetics, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
drh15@psu.edu
814-863-9805
   (University Park)

Population genetics. Plant evolution and ecology. Crop improvement. Physiological tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.
Kang, Seogchan
  • Professor of Plant Pathology
sxk55@psu.edu
814-863-3846
   (University Park)

Genetic and cellular mechanisms underpinning plant-fungal interactions with Arabidopsis thaliana and Fusarium oxysporum as a model system. Molecular genetics and comparative genomics of fungal plant pathogens. Bioinformatics.
Kao, Teh-hui
  • Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • Chair, Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Plant Biology
txk3@psu.edu
814-863-1042
   (University Park)

Molecular and biochemical bases of the S-RNase-based self-incompatibility system in flowering plants; molecular and biochemical characterization of cellulose biosynthesis in bacteria and plants.
Koide, Roger
  • Professor of Horticultural Ecology
rxk13@psu.edu
814-863-0710
   (University Park)

Ecology and physiology of plants and their mycorrhizal fungi.
Luthe, Dawn
  • Professor of Plant Stress Biology, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
dsl14@psu.edu
814-863-3542
   (University Park)

Insect defense responses in maize. Functional genomics/proteomic approaches for studying Aspergillus flavus resistance in maize. Abiotic stress resistance.
Lynch, Jonathan
  • Professor of Plant Nutrition
jpl4@psu.edu
814-863-2256
   (University Park)

Plant adaptation to nutrient and water stress. Global change. World hunger. Root biology.
Ma, Hong
  • Distinguished Professor of Biology
hxm16@psu.edu
814-863-6414
   (University Park)

Molecular genetics and evolution of flower development. Anther cell differentiation, meiosis and pollen development. Comparative, genomic and bioinformatic analyses of eukaryotic gene functions.
Maximova, Siela
  • Senior Research Associate and Associate Professor of Horticulture
snm104@psu.edu
814-863-7286
   (University Park)

Molecular basis of plant - pathogen and plant-endophyte interactions;Biotechnology of tree crops; Development of Sustainable Energy Crops.
McNellis, Timothy
  • Associate Professor of Plant Pathology
mcnellis@psu.edu
814-863-7646
   (University Park)

Genetics, molecular biology and physiology of plant interactions with phytopathogenic bacteria. Signal transduction events involved in plant disease resistance. Genetic control of plant hypersensitive cell death.
Mescher, Mark
  • Assistant Professor of Entomology
mcmescher@psu.edu
814-865-4208
   (University Park)

Ecology and evolution of interactions among plants and insects. Chemical ecology. Disease ecology. Plant signaling.
Monshausen, Gabriele
  • Assistant Professor of Biology
gbm10@psu.edu
814-867-3339
   (University Park)

Plant cell signaling. Hormonal and mechanical signal transduction in plant growth regulation. Live cell imaging of subcellular microdomains of ionic signaling.
Mullin, Chris
  • Professor, Department of Entomology
camullin@psu.edu
814-865-2435
   (University Park)

Toxicology of insect-plant interactions. Honey bee ecotoxicology. Mechanisms of insect taste chemoreception. Biopesticide action and resistance. Phytochemical ecology.
Nixon, B. Tracy
  • Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
btn1@psu.edu
814-865-3679
   (University Park)

Structural and functional basis of two component signal transduction. Structural basis for how AAA+ ATPases perform mechanical work to activate transcription by remodeling the sigma54-form of bacterial RNA polymerase.
Stephenson, Andrew "Andy"
  • Professor of Biology
as4@psu.edu
814-863-1553
   (University Park)

The impact of inbreeding by plants on organic volatile production, herbivory and the establishment and spread of diseases. The effects of effects of disease on the foraging behavior of vectors and their natural enemies.
Tien, Ming
  • Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
mxt3@psu.edu
814-863-1165
   (University Park)

Mechanism of fungal degradation of the plant polymer lignin. Modification of lignin biosynthesis to yield more readily hydrolyzed lignin. Mechanism of cellulose synthesis. Disimilatory iron reduction. Microbial reduction of metal oxides for respiration.
Yang, Yinong
  • Associate Professor of Plant Pathology
yuy3@psu.edu
814-867-0324
   (University Park)

Signal perception and transduction in rice-pathogen interactions; Molecular and genomic strategies for increasing disease resistance and drought tolerance in cereal crops.