I am interested in evolutionary medicine and how understanding the ways in which humans have co-evolved with environments, diets, and pathogens allows us to better understand health and disease. My research draws on the methods and theoretical frameworks of several fields, including: molecular biology, archaeology, archaeogenetics (ancient DNA), stable isotope-based paleodietary and...
Past PMB Seminars
For a schedule of all Plant & Microbial Biology events, seminars, and lectures visit our calendar.
Sustainable Agriculture Research in the Next Farm Bill
Agriculture and related industries contributed $985 billion to the US GDP in 2014. How will research keep up with demand, particularly in sustainable agriculture, one of the fastest-growing parts of the farm economy? Scholars from four diverse universities will discuss federally-funded agriculture research.
Thomas Richards: When is a fungus not a fungus?
The primary focus of my research is to determine the evolutionary relationships of the eukaryotes and the cellular and genomic innovations associated with the emergence and diversification of the eukaryotic cell.
Diversified Farming Systems Roundtable with Amélie Gaudin
We will highlight some of the underlying biophysical mechanisms and propose approaches for agroecosystems researchers to monitor and assess resilience that consider the unique characteristics and goals of intensive agricultural systems.
Paola Bonfante: Crossing the kingdoms: Plants, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Endobacteria
Biology of Plant-Microorganism Interactions She coordinates a research group of more than 15 members: Eight out of them have a permanent position belonging to the Department of Plant Biology of the University of Torino and to the National Council of Research (Soil Mycology - Institution of Plant Protection/CNR): the other components are early researchers (Ph.D students and postdocs).
Arthur Grossman: From the Evolution of an Organelle to Photosynthetic Function
Our activities over the last five years have been extremely diverse, crossing over various disciplines. We have explored areas ranging from identifying new functions associated with photosynthetic processes, the mechanism(s) of coral bleaching and the impact of temperature and light on the bleaching process, metagenomic and genomic diversity among primary producers in hot spring mats, metabolic...
Magdalena Bezanilla: Actin and microtubule crosstalk impact cell patterning and development
Molecular Mechanisms Behind Plant Cell Growth How cells grow, one of the most fundamental aspects of biology, remains an open question. My research program focuses on plant cells, which unlike many other eukaryotic cells are not motile. Confined by a relatively rigid cell wall, plant cells take a wide variety of shapes within tissues of the entire plant and ultimately these shapes dictate...
Philip Benfey: Underground signaling networks
Dr. Lidstrom is a Professor of Microbiology and holds the Frank Jungers Chair of Engineering, in the Department of Chemical Engineering, at the University of Washington, Seattle. She received her B.S. in Microbiology from Oregon State University. After receiving her M.S. and Ph.D. in Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Lidstrom conducted work as a Leverhulme postdoctoral Fellow in...