Kevin M. Dorn
University of Minnesota
Department of Plant Biology
1445 Gortner Avenue, 250 Biological Sciences Center
St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
dorn@umn.edu
Work Phone: 612-624-3105
Education
2015 University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
(expected) Ph.D. in Plant Biological Sciences
Adviser: Dr. M. David Marks
Co-Adviser: Dr. Donald Wyse
2012 University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Innovations in Undergraduate Multicultural Teaching and Learning
2008 University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
Bachelor of Science
Majors: Plant Biology
Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development
Additional Training
2011 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Course-Frontiers and Techniques
in Plant Sciences
Academic and Research Appointments
Current Graduate Fellow (National Science Foundation GRFP
Department of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota
2011-2012 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Biology Program, University of Minnesota
2010-2012 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota
2008-2010 Teach For America Corps Member-St. Louis, Missouri
2007 Dartmouth College Summer UndergraduateResearch Fellow
(Advisor: Dr. Rob McClung), Hanover, NH
2005-2008 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Advisor: Dr. Jay Hatch),
General College/Department of Postsecondary Teaching and Learning, University of Minnesota
2004-2008 Undergraduate Research Assistant (Advisor: Dr. Cynthia Weinig)
Department of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota
Publications and Presentations
Dorn, KM; Fankhauser, JD; Wyse, DL; Marks, MD. (2013) De novo assembly of the pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) transcriptome provides tools for the development of a winter cover crop and biodiesel feedstock.The Plant Journal. In press.
In Preparation Refereed Journal Articles
1.) Dorn, KM, Fankhauser, JF, and Marks, MD. Higher eukaryote genome assembly on a desktop computer.
2.) Dorn, KM and Marks, MD. Transcriptome comparison of Medicago truncatula glandular and non-glandular trichomes.
3.) Krause, M, Dorn, KM, and Marks, MD. Rapid in vitro regeneration of Thlaspi arvense.
Presentations
2013 International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (Sydney, Australia)
“The use of Arabidopsis as a resource to improve field pennycress, a next generation biodiesel feedstock”
2013 University of Minnesota Plant Biological Sciences Annual Retreat (St. Paul,MN)
“Developing genomic resources to improve Pennycress as a winter cover crop and biofuel feedstock”
2013 University of Minnesota Applied Plant Sciences Seminar Series (St. Paul, MN)
“Genomic characterization of the oilseed crop field pennycress”
2007 University of Minnesota-College of Biological Sciences Welcome Week Student Research Seminar (Minneapolis, MN)
“Plant circadian rhythms and competitive ability”
2007 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (San Rafael, CA)
“Circadian rhythm affects plant competitive ability”
Poster Presentations - (abstract published*)
2013 University of Minnesota Plant Biological Sciences Annual Retreat (St. Paul, MN)
2012 Plant Biology 2012 (Austin, Texas) *
2011 Plant Biology 2011 (Minneapolis, Minnesota)*
2011 International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (Madison, Wisconsin) *
2011 University of Minnesota Sustainability Symposium (St. Paul, MN)
2011 University of Minnesota Microbial and Plant Genomics Symposium
(St. Paul, MN)
2009 Young Scientist Program/Teacher Researcher Partnership Symposium
(St. Louis, MO)
2007 Leadership Alliance Symposium (Stamford, CN)
2007 Dartmouth College Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow Symposium
(Hanover, NH)
2007 University of Minnesota Undergraduate Research Symposium (Minneapolis, MN)
2006 University of Minnesota Undergraduate Research Symposium (Minneapolis, MN)
2005 University of Minnesota Undergraduate Research Symposium (Minneapolis, MN)
Fellowships and Awards
Graduate School
2012 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
2012 UMN College of Biological Sciences Outstanding Performance Award for TAs
2011 The National Academies Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship Program For Achieving Excellence in College and University Teaching-Honorable Mention
2011 The ERM Foundation Sustainability Fellowship-Top 10 National Finalist
2011 UMN PBS Graduate Program Summer Fellowship
2010 UMN Plant Biological Sciences Program Fellowship
Undergraduate
2007 University of Minnesota Dean’s List
2007 College of Biological Sciences Norman Kerr Memorial Scholarship
Research Grants
2012 Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research ($800)
2012 UMN Alexander and Lydia Anderson Fellowship ($3000 research grant)
2011 UMN College of Education GradSEHD Research Grant (2 awards)
2007 University of Minnesota Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Grant
2006 University of Minnesota Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Grant
Travel Grants
2013 North American Arabidopsis Steering Committee Early Career US Researcher Travel Award to attend the International Conference on Arabidopsis Research ICAR (Sydney, Australia)
2013 UMN Council of Graduate Students Travel Award to attend ICAR 2013
2013 UMN MPGI Travel Award to attend ICAR 2013
2013 UMN PBS Travel Award to attend ICAR 2013
2011 U.S. Junior Scientist Registration Funding Award for International Conference on Arabidopsis Research
2011 UMN-CFANS Graduate Student Scholarship to attend the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council Conference
2011 UMN PBS Travel Award for ASPB Plant Biology 2011 Meeting
2007 National Conference on Undergraduate Research Travel Grant
Academic Advising and Teaching
Undergraduate
2005-2008 Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development, Minneapolis, MN. “Ecological Evaluations of Environmental Issues” Led lab/field sections for 120 students over 6 semesters
Post-Baccalaureate
2008-2010 Science Teacher/Corps Member, Teach For America
Selected from 25,000 applicants to join the national teacher corps of recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in under-resourced public school to achieve significant gains in student achievement. Over two years, taught physical science, biology, and AP environmental science. Designed and implemented water quality project for cross-curricular study of local and global water issues. Worked with district partners to obtain funding for student computer lab and testing equipment for use in multiple science classes.
Graduate School
2013 UMN HHMI Undergraduate Research Program mentor
2011 UMN HHMI Scientific Teaching Program for Postdoctoral Fellows and Advanced Graduate Students
2012 Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. Biology 3272/5272 “Applied Biostatistics”
2010 Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. Biology 2004 “Foundations of Biology for Biology Majors-Lab”
Undergraduate Researchers Mentored
Duc Dang(Summer 2012) Penn State, Harrisburg undergraduate, funded by UMN Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Project: Cloning and characterization of a VRN1 homolog from field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense).
Linnea Peterson-Bunker(Summer 2012) Earlham College undergraduate, funded by UMN Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Project: Flowering time gene expression in Cannabis sativa.
Kirk Amundson(Spring 2013-current) University of Minnesota Honors undergraduate. Project: Generation and characterization of an EMS population of field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense).
Heather Soika(Spring 2013-current) University of Minnesota undergraduate, funded by UMN Howard Hughes Medical Institute Biology Education Program. Project: Regulation of flowering in winter annuals via endogenous microRNA targeting.
Keo Corak(Summer 2013) Macalester College undergraduate, funded by UMN Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program.
Professional Societies Membership
Sigma Xi-The Scientific Research Society (elected 2007), American Society of Plant Biologists, American Association for the Advancement of Science, The Society for Experimental Biology