Mender of Broken Pathways
New faculty member Thomas Niehaus investigates how metabolic processes go awry—and how biologists can conquer the chaos.
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PMB
The department of Plant and Microbial Biology works to advance knowledge of basic plant and microbial biology. Teaching and research programs in the department cover molecular, biochemical, cellular, developmental, physiological, organismal, ecological, and evolutionary biology of plants, algae and fungi. Here you will find a collection of news, features and opportunities for and about PMB.
Brown rot, green energy
Researchers are tracking down the genetic roots of a process that could lead to more efficient production of biomass fuels.
Hemp on the Horizon
Field trials allow researchers to determine what varieties of industrial hemp grow best in different parts of Minnesota.
College Breaks Ground on New Conservatory
Legislators, University leaders and supporters gathered to mark the occasion.
Supporters gathered October 12 to celebrate the launch of construction on a new College of Biological Sciences Conservatory. The existing Conservatory will remain open during construction, which is expected to be complete by June 2019.
A Long-Term Look at Range Limits
NSF renews funding for a multi-year study led by David Moeller investigating the ecological and evolutionary forces impacting the boundaries of species’ geographic ranges.
A central theme in evolutionary biology is that organisms frequently adapt to a variety of environemnts across their ranges. At the same time, it remains poorly understood as to why boundaries to geographic ranges form and remain stable over long periods of time.
The Biologists and the Bell
College of Biological Sciences faculty contributed to the creation of exhibits and more at the new Bell Museum.
A wall display at the new Bell features images taken of plots at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve using spectral diversity of plants to evaluate biodiversity.
The Story Behind the Scientist with Katie Fixen
There are two absolutes in science: Failure is frequent and inevitable.
“A lot of what you do [day-to-day] in the lab doesn’t work,” says Dr. Katie Fixen, a microbiologist who recently joined the Plant and Microbial Biology Department on the St. Paul campus.
The Story Behind the Scientist with Feng Zhang
Feng Zhang was born and raised in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, China’s most populous province. Both math and science came easily to him, so he set his academic sights on genetics, a natural marriage of two passions that would allow him to “solve real problems in the real world.”
Making Sense of Methanogens
New faculty member Kyle Costa seeks to understand how methanogens produce methane.
A Q&A with Peter Tiffin
New head of the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology shares his perspective on PMB’s past, present and future.
Longtime faculty member Peter Tiffin recently stepped into a new role as department head for Plant and Microbial Biology.
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