Plant Biology and Biotechnology
Faculty in this area investigate plant structure, physiology, and development, as well as apply molecular techniques to understand fundamental plant biology and to improve plant growth in extreme environments. This research can address food security, sustainable agriculture, biofuel production, and environmental conservation through genetic engineering and breeding innovations.
Members
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The Davidi Lab conducts research in phyto-molecular biotechnology, with a focus on biofuels, natural products, and extreme environment adaptation.
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The Wang Lab studies chloroplast function in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to identify targets for bioengineering crops and algae with improved photosynthesis efficiency, environmental stress resistance, yields, and sustainability.
Interested in working with us?
In the news
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Research
How Northeastern scientists are using Antarctic sea spiders to study life on the edge
Connie Phong wants to know how an animal adapted to live in a highly specialized environment — just below the freezing point for seawater — responds to warming oceans. -
Research
How do axolotls regenerate limbs and organs? This researcher has started to uncover the secret
New research by James Monaghan, professor of biology, shows that the key to axolotl limb regeneration is retinoic acid. Could this be the key to human limb regeneration in the future? -
Research
This antibiotic is effective against anthrax, and has no detectable resistance, Northeastern research finds
Kim Lewis and Slava Epstein, Northeastern biology professors, developed an antibiotic over a decade ago that can now be used against anthrax. -
Research
Patagonian ‘living rocks’ trace their origins to the beginning of life on Earth
Veronica Godoy-Carter, professor of Biology and Biochemistry, has sequenced the genome of a “living hill” or bacterial colony found in Patagonia. -
Research
Why are axolotls suddenly so popular — and going extinct at the same time?
Northeastern University professors explain how the axolotl — an adorable amphibian with a permanent smile and pink, feathery gills — has become so popular, and why it’s also critically endangered in the wild. -
Research
New Northeastern research could revolutionize treatment for children’s growth plate fractures using stem cells
Andreia Ionescu, assistant professor of biology, is conducting research to understand how stem cells can be used to treat bone fractures. -
Research
Dean Hazel Sive edits volume detailing African frog research and best practices that informed her ‘life’s work’
Hazel Sive, the dean of the College of Science and professor of biology at Northeastern University, has edited “Xenopus: A Laboratory Manual,” a new textbook that presents “a comprehensive collection of experimental procedures for research using Xenopus,” according to the publisher’s webpage. Xenopus — a genus of African frog — make for versatile experiments, as […] -
Research
Three Northeastern leaders receive lifetime honor for prolific scientific contributions
Professor Penny Beuning, chair of the chemistry and chemical biology department; Elizabeth Mynatt, dean of the Khoury College of Computer Sciences; and Hazel Sive, dean of the College of Arts and Science, have all been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.