We are a diverse group of scientists whose primary interests are in plant breeding and the genetics of hemp (Cannabis sativa), hop (Humulus lupulus), and willow (Salix spp). A common feature of all of these is that they are dioecious, and we aim to gain a greater understanding of sex determination across all of these taxa, especially as it relates to crop function.
While we make fundamental discoveries about the biology of these plants, we also seek to apply that knowledge to improve the sustainability and profitability of agriculture through the development of new cultivars and crop management technology. We also serve our land grant mission by transferring knowledge through extension to diverse stakeholder audiences and use their feedback to guide our forward progress to meet their needs.
We hope you will join us as a lab member or collaborator to help advance our mission of gaining new knowledge and educating a diverse workforce.
Pictured above is our lab photo from Summer 2023. From Left: Larry Smart, Luis Monserrate, George Stack, Bahiya Zahl, Jacob Toth, Andrew Komatz, Michael Quade, Lucía Vignale, Aaron Brooks, Alex Wares, Natalie McFadden, Amelia Brady, Maylin Murdock, Skylar Bedell. Not shown: Marissa Arnoldussen, Erica Miller, Elisabeth Porchet, Dawn Fishback, Sharee Defayette, and Ben Jablonski.
