Students
2008 Trainees (Cohort 1)
Butterfield, Timothy
530-752-7026
tsbutterfield@ucdavis.edu
Lagarias Laboratory, 31 Briggs Hall
Plant Biology Graduate Group
Research Focus:
Bridging multiple disciplines, including plant biology, biochemistry and biophysics, Tim is pursuing research that will lead to new strategies for agronomic crop improvement. Specifically, his doctoral work will investigate a gain-of-function allele of plant phytochromes for use in engineering altered light-responsiveness and yield gain in crop plant species.
Chiniquy, Dawn
530-754-2252
dmchiniquy@ucdavis.edu
Ronald Laboratory,225 Robbins Hall
Plant Biology Graduate Group
Research Focus:
Engineered disease resistance in bioenergy crops may prove to be a critical factor in maximizing biomass production for cellulosic ethanol. Dawn’s research will contribute to the development of rice strains improved for use as bioenergy feedstocks. Specifically, her doctoral work will involve the characterization a family of glycosyltransferase enzymes required for cellulose biosynthesis in rice, as well as a novel gene participating in rice defense responses.
Glavan, Tiffany
530-752-3542
twglavan@ucdavis.edu
Dandekar Laboratory, 5605A GBSF
Medical Microbiology & Immunology Graduate Group
Research Focus:
Tiffany's project is focused on the development of plant-derived therapeutic proteins to treat gastrointestinal dysfunction through the regeneration and renewal of the epithelial layer of the gut mucosa. She is collaborating with multiple groups on campus in an effort to express the protein in N.benthamiana and evaluate its activity in epithelial cell culture.
Lindenmuth, Ben
530-754-9452
ben.lindenmuth@gmail.com
McDonald Laboratory, 3069 Bainer Hall
Chemical Engineering & Materials Science
Research Focus:
Ben’s research is focused on the development of an inducible plant-based expression system for the production of cellulose degrading enzymes. He is investigating the expression and localization of these enzymes in planta, as well as their potential use in an exogenously applied biomass pre-treatments.
Simmons, Chris
530-752-0764
cwsimmons@ucdavis.edu
VanderGheynst Laboratory, 1339 Bainer Hall
Biological Systems Engineering
Research Focus:
Through kinetic modeling of the T-DNA strand transfer pathway from Agrobacterium tumifaciens to host plant cells during agroinfiltration, Chris will focus on identifying key factors and rate-limiting steps in plant transformation. Ultimately, this model will be used in designing more efficient, rapid and cost-effective plant expression systems for plant-made products.
2009 Trainees (Cohort 2)
Arzola, Lucas
530-754-9452
larzola@ucdavis.edu
McDonald Laboratory, 3069 Bainer Hall
Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, Chemical Engineering Graduate Program
Research Focus:
Due to the very real threat of bioterrorism, rapid, large scale, and cost effective production of specific therapeutic compounds is needed. Lucas' research is focused on the development of an inducible plant-based expression system for the rapid production of anthrax decoy protein, which can mitigate the effects of the biological warfare agent Bacillus anthracis, causal agent of anthrax.
Castillo, Elenor
530-752-8069
elecastillo@ucdavis.edu
Negre-Zakarov Laboratory, 1048 Wickson Hall
Dept of Plant Sciences, Plant Biology Graduate Group
Research Focus:
Elenor's project focuses on elucidating the metabolic pathways that underlie production of aromatic volatiles in fruits, which has direct commercial application in extending fruit shelf-life. On a broader scale, understanding the role of volatile chemical signals within and between plants in field populations may also play a part in increasing crop yields/biomass, engineering insect and pathogen resistance, and fine-tuning other agronomic and quality-related crop traits.
Elmore, James "Mitch"
530-752-7231
jmelmore@ucdavis.edu
Coaker Laboratory, 210 Hutchison Hall
Department of Plant Pathology, Plant Biology Graduate Group
Research Focus:
Innovative strategies for sustainable disease control in agriculture can be developed by understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-pathogen interactions. Mitch’s research seeks to identify the plant targets and virulence mechanisms of proteins essential to the lifestyle of phytopathogenic bacteria.
Kerwin, Rachel
530-752-7648
rekerwin@ucdavis.edu
Kliebenstein Laboratory, 127 Asmundson Hall
Department of Plant Sciences, Plant Biology Graduate Group
Research Focus:
Rachel seeks to understand the metabolic pathways underlying glucosinolate production in plants. She will characterize nine genes involved in glucosinolate metabolism and investigate glucosinolate’s potential as plant-made product to deter herbivory in the field.
Wolf, Mark
530-754-5234
mwolf17@gmail.com
Parales Laboratory, 225 Briggs Hall
Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Graduate Group
Research Focus:
Mark will characterize a number of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes isolated from Acidothermus cellulolyticus, a hot springs microorganism isolated in Yellowstone National Park. His goal is to identify thermostable enzymes appropriate for use in the production of biofuels and industrial chemicals.