Research

A photo of petri dishes with research samples. Photo by Keegan Houser

The Department of Plant & Microbial Biology (PMB) engages in a wide variety of both fundamental and applied research.  

PMB is at the forefront of cutting-edge research. Our department includes world experts on plants, microbes, fungi, algae, photosynthesis, biofuels, virology and more.

Our professors maintain labs in a variety of locations, including Koshland Hall, Li Ka Shing, the Energy Biosciences Institute, the Plant Gene Expression Center, the Joint Genome Institute, and the Joint BioEnergy Institute.  Research labs provide opportunities for postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduate students at UC Berkeley.

Find our faculty by the following research focus areas:

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Patricia Zambryski

Professor Emerita

Ben Williams

Assistant Professor

Mary Wildermuth

Associate Professor

Matthew Traxler

Assistant Professor

John Taylor

Professor of the Graduate School

Michi Taga

Professor

Z. Renee Sung

Professor Emeritus

Brian Staskawicz

Maxine J. Elliot Professor of Plant and Microbial Biology

Shauna Somerville

Professor Emerita

Chris Somerville

Professor Emeritus

Patrick Shih

Assistant Professor

Kim Seed

Associate Professor

Henrick Vibe Scheller

Adjunct Professor

Kathleen Ryan

Associate Professor

Peter Quail

Professor Emeritus

Daniel Portnoy

Distinguished Professor

Krishna Niyogi

Professor

Dipti Nayak

Assistant Professor in Molecular and Cell Biology

Sabeeha Merchant

Professor

Anastasios Melis

Professor

Sheila McCormick

Adjunct Professor Emerita

N. Cecilia Martinez-Gomez

Associate Professor

Sheng Luan

Chancellor's Professor

Lotus Lofgren

Assistant Professor

Steven Lindow

Professor Emeritus

Jennifer D. Lewis

Adjunct Associate Professor

Peggy Lemaux

Professor of Cooperative Extension

Aaron Leichty

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Patricia Lang

Assistant Professor

Ksenia Krasileva

Associate Professor

Arash Komeili

Professor

Frank Harmon

Adjunct Associate Professor

Sarah Hake

Adjunct Professor Emerita

Yangnan Gu

Associate Professor
Plant and Microbial Biology

Igor Grigoriev

Adjunct Professor / Senior Scientist / Program Head

Yan Gong

Britt Glaunsinger

Professor

Louise Glass

Professor

Karine Gibbs

Associate Professor

Michael Freeling

Professor Emeritus

Jennifer Fletcher

Adjunct Professor

Robert Fischer

Professor Emeritus

Lewis Feldman

Professor of Plant Biology and Executive Director, UC Botanical Garden

Adam Deutschbauer

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Devin Coleman-Derr

Adjunct Assistant Professor

John Coates

Professor

Bob Buchanan

Professor Emeritus

Tom Bruns

Professor Emeritus

Steven Brenner

Professor

Rachel Brem

Associate Professor

Benjamin Blackman

Associate Professor

Rebecca Bart

Barbara Baker

Adjunct Professor