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Professor of Biology

Phytoremediation of metal ions

We are studying plants’ responses to abiotic stress, in particular metal ions in the environment. High levels of various metal ions (such as nickel, zinc, and cadmium ions, the ions we are currently studying) in the soil can be highly toxic to plants. We want to understand at the molecular level the mechanisms by which plants respond to such environmental stress, including how they take up, transport, sequester, accumulate, and otherwise process metal ions from the environment. In order to accomplish this we will employ a combination of complementary approaches: forward genetics (mutant screening) and reverse genetics. Further, if we can understand the mechanisms by which plants normally respond to and process metal ions, then we have the potential to isolate or develop plants that are resistant to the toxicity or are more efficient at processing the metal. Thus, the findings of this work have potential applications in phytoremediation. This work is done in collaboration with Dr. Rick Schaeffer from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Impact of genotype on ergogenic effects of caffeine on performance

We are studying the impact of genotype on the ergogenic effects of caffeine on performance and tasks. This work involves genotyping subjects across a range of genes using TaqMan SNP Genotyping assays and has been approved by the Messiah IRB. This work is done in collaboration with Dr. Scott Kieffer in the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science.