Biodiesel fuel made from soybeans

• Sue Gibson, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-7408, gibso043@umn.edu

Biofuel made from algae

• Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu

Biohydrocarbon fuels

• Larry Wackett, McKnight professor of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Institute member, 612-625-3785, wacke003@umn.edu

Cellulosic ethanol made from prairie grasses

• David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu

Microbial fuel cells

• Daniel Bond, assistant professor, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-8619, dbond@umn.edu

Products made from blue-green algae

• Florence Gleason, professor, Plant Biology, 612-625-4275, iqa6016@umn.edu

Biochemistry

• Paul Siliciano, associate professor, director of undergraduate studies and associate head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-625-4928, pauls@umn.edu

Biology

• Mark Decker, co-director, Biology Program, 612-626-2038, decker@umn.edu

Ecology

• Jeannine Cavender-Bares, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6337, cavender@umn.edu

• Clarence Lehman, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; resident fellow, Institute on the Environment, 612-625-5734, lehman@umn.edu

Genetics

• Rob Brooker, associate professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-624-3053, brook005@umn.edu

Genomics

Human

• Judy Berman, professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-625-1971, berma003@umn.edu

Microbial metagenomics

• Mike Sadowsky, director, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu

Human genetics and development

• Michael O'Connor, Ordway Chair in Developmental Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, 612-626-0642, moconnor@umn.edu

Undergraduate biology curriculum

• Robin Wright, 612-625-1183, wrightr@umn.edu

Graduate programs

• Clarence Lehman, associate dean for graduate education, 612-625-1839, lehman@umn.edu

Biodale

Biotechnology Resource Center

• Tim Tripp, assistant department director, 612-624-6758, tripp006@umn.edu

Imaging Center [microscopy]

• Mark Sanders, program director, 612-624-3454, msanders@umn.edu

Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics

• Thomas Krick, program director, 612-624-7715, krick001@umn.edu

Bioplastics

• Friedrich Srienc, professor, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-9776, srienc@umn.edu

Bioremediation

[Use of microbial organisms to clean up the environment]

• Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu

• Lawrence Wackett, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-625-3785, wacke003@umn.edu

BioTechnology Institute

• Michael Sadowsky, director, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu

• Tim Tripp, assistant department director, 612-624-6758, tripp006@umn.edu

Ecology (general questions)

• Jeannine Cavender-Bares, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6337, cavender@umn.edu

• Bob Sterner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6790, stern007@umn.edu

• Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Field biology

• Jeff Corney, manager, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, 612-301-2601, jcorney@umn.edu

• David Biesboer, professor, Plant Biology; director, Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, 612-625-1799, biesboer@umn.edu

Lake Superior and other Minnesota lakes

• Robert Sterner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6790, stern007@umn.edu

• James Cotner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, and Moos Chair in Limnology, 612-625-1706, cotne002@umn.edu

Plant disease

• Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Prairie plants and ecology

• Ruth Shaw, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7206, shawx016@umn.edu

• Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Restoration ecology

• Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Rivers and streams

• Jacques Finlay, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-4672, jfinlay@umn.edu

Tropical dry forests

• Jeannine Cavender-Bares, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6337, cavender@umn.edu

• Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu

Tropical rain forests

• George Weiblen, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu

• Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu

Biodiversity

• David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu

• Ruth Shaw, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7206, shawx016@umn.edu

• Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Carbon cycling

• Sarah Hobbie, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6269, shobbie@umn.edu

• Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu

Climate change

• Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Conservation biology

• Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Endangered plant species

• Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Environmental cleanup using micro-organisms

• Lawrence Wackett, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-625-3785, wacke003@umn.edu

• Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu

Fossil fuels and increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

• David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu

• Sarah Hobbie, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6269, shobbie@umn.edu

Human impact on global ecosystems

• Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

• Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu

• David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu

Invasive plants in prairies

• Diane Larson, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-9271, dllarson@umn.edu

Invasive species

• Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

• Ruth Shaw, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7206, shawx016@umn.edu

Invasive species in lakes

• Robert Sterner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-6790, stern007@umn.edu

• Jacques Finlay, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-4672, jfinlay@umn.edu

Nitrogen fertilizers and diminishing global biodiversity

• David Tilman, McKnight Presidential Chair and Regents Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5740, tilman@umn.edu

• Eric Seabloom, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-3406, seabloom@umn.edu

Ozone depletion and increased ultra-violet radiation: Impact on aquatic ecosystems

• James Cotner, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-1706, cotne002@umn.edu

Tropical rain forests

• George Weiblen, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu

• Jennifer Powers, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Plant Biology, 612-625-5721, powers@umn.edu

Evolution, teaching in schools

• Randy Moore, professor, Biology Program, 612-626-4458, rmoore@umn.edu

• Mark Borrello, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7079, borrello@umn.edu

• Sehoya Cotner, associate professor, Biology Program, 612-626-2385, harri054@umn.edu

• Scott Lanyon, head, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6291, lanyo001@umn.edu

Evolutionary biology

Darwin, history of evolution

• Mark Borrello, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7079, borrello@umn.edu

• Randy Moore, professor, Biology Program, 612-626-4458, rmoore@umn.edu

• Mark Decker, co-director, Biology Program, 612-626-2038, decker@umn.edu

Science of evolution

• Sehoya Cotner, associate professor, Biology Program, 612-626-2385, harri054@umn.edu

• R. Ford Denison, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, denis036@umn.edu

• Scott Lanyon, head, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6291, lanyo001@umn.edu

Tree of Life/Macroevolution

Birds

• Scott Lanyon, head, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6291, lanyo001@umn.edu

• Bob Zink, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-7207, zinkx003@umn.edu

Fungi/mushrooms

• David McLaughlin, professor, Plant Biology; curator of fungi, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-625-5736, davem@umn.edu

Genetics

• Keith Barker, assistant professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-2737, barke042@umn.edu

Mammals

• Sharon Jansa, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; curator of mammals, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-624-6293, jansa003@umn.edu

Plants

• George Weiblen, Packard Fellow, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu

The Department of Plant Biology conducts a variety of federally funded research to make crop plants more productive and more resistant to disease, pests, and temperature extremes. Following are a few key areas of research.

Corn genomics

• Nathan Springer, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-6241, springer@umn.edu

Epigenetics

• Nathan Springer, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-6241, springer@umn.edu

Evolution and agriculture

• Peter Tiffin, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-7406, ptiffin@umn.edu

• R. Ford Denison, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, denis036@umn.edu

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

• Dan Voytas, professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-626-4509, voytas@umn.edu

• Jane Glazebrook, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-5194, jglazebr@umn.edu

Hemp as a fiber and oil crop

• George Weiblen, Packard Fellow, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu

Nitrogen fixation

The unique ability of legumes to capture nitrogen (an essential nutrient) from the environment.

• Kate VandenBosch, professor and head, Plant Biology, 612-625-1234, vande102@umn.edu

• Michael Sadowsky, McKnight professor and head, BioTechnology Institute, 612-624-2706, sadowsky@umn.edu

• R. Ford Denison, adjunct professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, denis036@umn.edu

Plant disease resistance

• Fumi Katagiri, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-5195, katagiri@umn.edu

• Jane Glazebrook, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-5194, jglazebr@umn.edu

Aging

• James Curtsinger, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6746, jwcurt@umn.edu

Autoimmune diseases

Myasthenia gravis

• Bianca Conti-Fine, Distinguished McKnight Professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-6796, conti001@umn.edu

Blood coagulation diseases

• Gary Nelsestuan, professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-3622, nelse002@umn.edu

Cancer biology

• Brian Van Ness, professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, 612-624-9944, vanne001@umn.edu

• Anja Bielinsky, associate professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-2469, bieli003@umn.edu

Diabetes and metabolism

• David Bernlohr, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and head, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-2712, bernl001@umn.edu

Ecology of human disease

• Susan Jones, associate professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior and History of Science and Technology, 612-624-9636, jone0996@umn.edu

Proteomics

[Study of proteins produced by an organism's genome and the role of those proteins in health and disease]

• Gary Nelsestuen, professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-3622, nelse002@umn.edu

• Timothy Griffin, associate professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, 612-624-5249, tgriffin@umn.edu

Zoonotic diseases

[Transmission of infectious diseases from animals to humans]

• Craig Packer, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-625-5729, packer@umn.edu

• Mike Wilson, assistant professor, Anthropology, 612-625-1376, wilso108@umn.edu

Aquatic plants

• Florence Gleason, professor, Plant Biology, 612-625-4275, iqa6016@umn.edu

Fungi/mushrooms

• David McLaughlin, professor, Plant Biology; curator of fungi, Bell Museum of Natural History, 612-625-5736, davem@umn.edu

Native plants of Minnesota

• David Biesboer, professor, Plant Biology; director, Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, 612-625-1799, biesboer@umn.edu

Plant systems

• Georgiana May, professor, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, 612-624-6737, gmay@umn.ed

• Neil Olszewski, professor, Plant Biology, 612-625-3129, neil@umn.edu

Tropical rain forests

• George Weiblen, Packard Fellow, associate professor, Plant Biology, 612-624-3461, gweiblen@umn.edu