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# Boyce Thompson Institute: Discovery inspired by plants

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://btiscience.org/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Beyond the Grant: How the Cane-Bridge Foundation Is Helping BTI Turn Discovery into Impact](https://btiscience.org/beyond-the-grant-how-the-cane-bridge-foundation-is-helping-bti-turn-discovery-into-impact/): A shrub that grows wild in the deserts of the American Southwest could someday replace the latex tapped from rubber trees half a world away — in tires, in surgical gloves, in thousands of everyday products. The science already shows it's possible.
- [New AI tool maps the hidden universe of small molecules](https://btiscience.org/new-ai-tool-maps-the-hidden-universe-of-small-molecules/): The human body and its gut microbiome produce thousands of small molecules that shape how the body functions—influencing immunity, metabolism, and more. Identifying what those molecules actually are has been one of the biomedical sciences’ most persistent bottlenecks. More than 80% of compounds detected in a typical biological sample cannot be matched to any known structure using current methods.
- [Primed and Ready to Fight: A Nematode Pheromone Arms Plants to Battle Pathogens](https://btiscience.org/primed-and-ready-to-fight-a-nematode-pheromone-arms-plants-to-battle-pathogens/): When cold and flu season comes around, we take steps like getting our flu shots and taking immune supplements to strengthen our bodies’ defenses against pathogens. Plants face pathogenic threats, too. Plant pathogens can have devastating impacts on crop yield, with up to 40% of global food crops lost annually, and such loss has severe implications for food security. But what if we could boost plant immune systems like we do our own, and make them better able to withstand or fend off biological threats? Recently published in Nature Communications Biology, new research from scientists at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) explored this very concept and found that a previously unrecognized natural compound can provide lasting protection against a broad range of plant pathogens.
- [Meet Jayna Burch: An Unexpected Opportunity Takes Root](https://btiscience.org/meet-jayna-burch-an-unexpected-opportunity-takes-root/): For Jayna Burch, an unexpected job opportunity during her first week of college helped set the course for her future.
- [Meet Benicio “Benny” Sandoval: Growing Better Food Systems Through Better Science](https://btiscience.org/meet-benicio-benny-sandoval-growing-better-food-systems-through-better-science/): For Benicio "Benny" Sandoval, plant science is more than an academic pursuit; it's a way to solve real-world problems.
- [Meet Jua’nele Webb: Engineering New Possibilities for Agriculture](https://btiscience.org/meet-juanele-webb-engineering-new-possibilities-for-agriculture/)
- [Meet Thomas Hawkins: Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places](https://btiscience.org/meet-thomas-hawkins-finding-inspiration-in-unexpected-places/): The path to plant science wasn't a straight line for Thomas Hawkins. Before pursuing a degree in soil and crop sciences at Colorado State University, he served in the U.S. Army and worked in information technology. Today, his interests span agronomy, phenotyping, and remote sensing, but his journey began with a love of the outdoors.
- [Connecting surface-level observations with molecular-level data uncovers a conserved plant stress coping mechanism](https://btiscience.org/connecting-surface-level-observations-with-molecular-level-data-uncovers-a-conserved-plant-stress-coping-mechanism/): Unlike humans, plants cannot make simple lifestyle adjustments to adapt to changing environments. When exposed to conditions like extreme heat or water scarcity, instead of putting on sweaters or turning on air conditioners, plants need to sense and respond to these environmental changes at the molecular level. Entering a sort of “survival mode,” plants shift their physiological and metabolic priorities, sacrificing things like growth and reproduction for survival.
- [2026 George and Helen Kohut Symposium](https://btiscience.org/2026-george-and-helen-kohut-symposium/): BTI's summer research experience programs culminate with the annual George and Helen Kohut Summer Research Symposium on Thursday, August 6. Please join us in-person or through Zoom!
- [The Invasive Fern That Science Misidentified for Decades](https://btiscience.org/the-invasive-fern-that-science-misidentified-for-decades/): Salvinia molesta can double its biomass in 36 hours. It spreads across ponds, lakes, and slow-moving waterways in a smothering green mat, blocking sunlight, consuming oxygen, and collapsing the ecosystems beneath it. Now present in freshwater bodies across more than 60 countries, it ranks among the top 100 most invasive species in the world. Scientists have long wanted to understand what makes it so relentlessly effective.
- [BTI Welcomes 2026 Undergraduate Student Researchers](https://btiscience.org/bti-welcomes-2026-undergraduate-student-researchers/): The Boyce Thompson Institute recently welcomed 38 undergraduate students to experience the life of a researcher for 10 weeks.
- [BTI Postdoc Laura Gonzalez Garcia named to the 2026 cohort of Pew Latin American Fellows](https://btiscience.org/bti-postdoc-laura-gonzalez-garcia-named-to-the-2026-cohort-of-pew-latin-american-fellows/): Laura Gonzalez Garcia, postdoctoral researcher in the Nelson Lab at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI), has been named a 2026 Pew Latin American Fellow and will receive support for her research into RNA modifications.
- [From Discovery to Startup: How BTI Continues to Cultivate Scientific Innovation Across the Globe](https://btiscience.org/from-discovery-to-startup-how-bti-continues-to-cultivate-scientific-innovation-across-the-globe/): Since its founding more than a century ago, the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) has been a place where bold scientific ideas take root.
- [BTI names Dr. Natalie Hoffmann inaugural Jane Silverthorne Postdoctoral Fellow](https://btiscience.org/bti-names-dr-natalie-hoffmann-inaugural-jane-silverthorne-postdoctoral-fellow/): Dr. Natalie Hoffmann, recipient of the inaugural Jane Silverthorne Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Boyce Thompson Institute, is investigating how beneficial fungi penetrate plant cell walls without causing damage. Her research explores how plants remodel their cell walls to facilitate symbiotic partnerships, utilizing advanced imaging and genetic tools to solve a mystery with implications for sustainable agriculture.
- [Super-powered population genomics: Watermelon super-pangenome paves the way for precision breeding](https://btiscience.org/super-powered-population-genomics-watermelon-super-pangenome-paves-the-way-for-precision-breeding/): Watermelon is a quintessential summertime fruit, evoking images of warm, sunny afternoons and cookouts with friends and family. You can easily picture its striped, green rind and pink flesh, imagine the delicate crunch as you bite into a slice, and almost taste the sweet juice bursting onto your tongue. What you likely don’t consider is the biological basis of traits like fruit color, texture, and sweetness—the genetics that have undergone millions of years of selection, both in nature and through intentional breeding, to give you that exact experience.
- [Boyce Thompson Institute Awarded USDA Grant to Advance Youth Education in Plant Biotechnology Across New York State](https://btiscience.org/boyce-thompson-institute-awarded-usda-grant-to-advance-youth-education-in-plant-biotechnology-across-new-york-state/): The Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) is pleased to announce that Dr. Georg Jander and Delanie Sickler, Education and Outreach Director at BTI, have received a multi-year award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Agriculture Non-Formal Education (FANE) program. The funding will support an ambitious new initiative titled P-BIOTEK: Plant Biotechnology Innovation, Outreach, Training, and Education for K-12 Students.
- [The Past Informs the Future: BTI’s Eric Richards Named a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow](https://btiscience.org/the-past-informs-the-future-btis-eric-richards-named-a-2026-guggenheim-fellow/): Over a century ago, a botanist named Daniel Trembly MacDougal injected salt solutions into plant ovaries and reported that the procedure changed the hereditary material passed on to offspring. Both MacDougal’s results and his interpretation of his findings were challenged, and this promising research, now largely forgotten, had only a muted impact on the subsequent flowering of experimental genetics. Dr. Eric Richards intends to find out what was really going on, using both archival research and a modern DNA sequencer.
- [BTI’s Isako Di Tomassi Honored with National Advocacy Award for Mobilizing Scientists Across the Country](https://btiscience.org/btis-isako-di-tomassi-honored-with-national-advocacy-award-for-mobilizing-scientists-across-the-country/): Isako Di Tomassi spends her days studying microbes that threaten plant health. Outside the lab, she helped build a movement: a campaign that convinced hundreds of scientists to write letters and op-eds defending the importance of federal research funding.
- [This odd little plant could help turbocharge crop yields](https://btiscience.org/this-odd-little-plant-could-help-turbocharge-crop-yields/): An international team of researchers has uncovered a remarkable molecular trick used by a unique group of land plants, one that could eventually be engineered into crops like wheat and rice to dramatically boost how efficiently they convert sunlight into food.
- [Breeding a better cucumber: new genetic map reveals 171,892 structural variants](https://btiscience.org/breeding-a-better-cucumber-new-genetic-map-reveals-171892-structural-variants/): Cucumber is an economically important crop worldwide, ranking as the third most-produced vegetable after tomatoes and onions. Yet breeding improved varieties—plants that are more resilient, produce better-shaped fruit, or are less prone to hollowness—remains an enormous challenge.
- [Scientists illuminate ancient plant-fungus partnership at molecular level](https://btiscience.org/scientists-illuminate-ancient-plant-fungus-partnership-at-molecular-level/): For 450 million years, plants and soil fungi have been trading partners. The fungi weave through plant roots, delivering phosphorus and other soil minerals in exchange for sugars and fats produced by the plant through photosynthesis. This ancient collaboration supports roughly 80% of Earth’s plant species—including corn, wheat, and other crops that feed billions of people.
- [Engineering the next superfood: BTI unlocks goldenberry’s large-scale farming potential](https://btiscience.org/engineering-the-next-superfood-bti-unlocks-goldenberrys-commercial-potential/): Goldenberries taste like a cross between pineapple and mango, pack the nutritional punch of a superfood, and are increasingly popular in U.S. grocery stores. But the plants that produce these bright yellow-orange fruits grow wild and unruly—reaching heights that make large-scale farming impractical.
- [BTI’s Fay-Wei Li featured on popular “Ologies” podcast](https://btiscience.org/btis-fay-wei-li-featured-on-popular-ologies-podcast/): BTI Associate Professor Fay-Wei Li joined host Alie Ward on Ologies—a top-five science podcast on Apple Podcasts—for a wide-ranging conversation about why ferns matter more than most people realize.
- [Announcing the Jane Silverthorne Postdoctoral Fellowship Program](https://btiscience.org/announcing-the-jane-silverthorne-postdoctoral-fellowship-program/): A message from Silvia Restrepo, President, Boyce Thompson Institute
- [Switch On, Switch Off: The Dynamic Defense of a Deadly Plant Disease](https://btiscience.org/switch-on-switch-off-the-dynamic-defense-of-a-deadly-plant-disease/): The notorious pathogen that caused the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s is still a major threat to potato and tomato crops worldwide. This oomycete water mold, Phytophthora infestans, can devastate entire fields, posing a constant threat to global food security. For decades, farmers have relied on fungicides like mefenoxam to manage the disease. But P. infestans is a cunning adversary.
- [Lignin and Lessons Learned: A Summer of Growth in Plant Science](https://btiscience.org/lignin-and-lessons-learned-a-summer-of-growth-in-plant-science/): by Sarah Siegle
- [Not in Kansas Anymore – How a Summer in Ithaca, New York Changed my Life](https://btiscience.org/not-in-kansas-anymore-how-a-summer-in-ithaca-new-york-changed-my-life/): by Hazel Frans
- [Meet Abby Stathis: Exploring the Microbial World of Plants](https://btiscience.org/meet-abby-stathis-exploring-the-microbial-world-of-plants/): Abby Stathis is a rising junior at Colby College, where she majors in Biology: Biochemistry (Biology with a Biochemistry concentration) and English: Creative Writing (English with a Creative Writing concentration). She is spending her summer deepening her research skills and scientific knowledge through the REU program at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI). Abby is passionate about understanding life at the molecular level, and she is gaining hands-on experience doing just that in Dr. Silvia Restrepo’s lab.
- [Cultivating the Next Generation of Scientists: BTI’s Summer Research Experience](https://btiscience.org/cultivating-the-next-generation-of-scientists-btis-summer-research-experience/): This summer, the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) welcomed 34 undergraduate students and three high school students, offering them a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the life of a researcher.
- [Meet Paul Kuehnert: From Woodworking to Plant Science](https://btiscience.org/meet-paul-kuehnert-from-woodworking-to-plant-science/): When Paul Kuehnert talks about his path to plant science, it’s clear that curiosity has been the driving force.
- [Meet Tetianna Smith-Drysdale: Digging Deep on Fungi and Finding Her Path in Science](https://btiscience.org/meet-tetianna-smith-drysdale-digging-deep-on-fungi-and-finding-her-path-in-science/): As she enters her senior year at the University of Oregon, Environmental Science major Tetianna Smith-Drysdale has spent the summer expanding her research experience and scientific understanding in Andre Kessler’s lab at Cornell University through the REU program at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI). Her journey has been shaped by curiosity, determination, and a passion for the hidden world of life under our feet.
- [BTI, Meiogenix, and FFAR Announce $2 Million Breakthrough Tomato Genetics Collaboration](https://btiscience.org/bti-meiogenix-and-ffar-announce-2-million-breakthrough-tomato-genetics-collaboration/): Research Lays the Foundation for Breakthroughs in Global Food Security
- [Decoding Sweetpotato DNA: New Research Reveals Surprising Ancestry](https://btiscience.org/decoding-sweetpotato-dna-new-research-reveals-surprising-ancestry/): The sweetpotato feeds millions worldwide, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where its natural resilience to climate extremes makes it crucial for food security. But this humble root vegetable has guarded its genetic secrets for decades. Now, scientists have finally decoded its complex genome, revealing an intricate origin story and providing powerful tools to help improve this vital crop.
- [Transforming the Future by Making Maize Bioengineering More Accessible](https://btiscience.org/transforming-the-future-by-making-maize-bioengineering-more-accessible/): by Alyssa Kearly
- [How Bacteria Use Sneaky Chemistry to Disable Plant Defenses](https://btiscience.org/how-bacteria-use-sneaky-chemistry-to-disable-plant-defenses/): In the microscopic battlefield of plant-microbe interactions, plants are constantly fighting off invading bacteria. New research reveals just how clever these bacterial invaders can be.
- [Ascribe Bio’s Phytalix® Achieves Stunning Success Against Devastating Rice Disease](https://btiscience.org/ascribe-bios-phytalix-achieves-stunning-success-against-devastating-rice-disease/): We at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) celebrate the remarkable achievement highlighted in Ascribe Bio’s recent press release: the groundbreaking success of its biological crop protection product Phytalix® in combating Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) in rice. This accomplishment represents a major stride toward sustainable agriculture and directly stems from years of collaborative research at BTI.
- [Cultivating Innovation: A Closer Look at BTI and Zymtronix’s Phenotyping Collaboration](https://btiscience.org/cultivating-innovation-a-closer-look-at-bti-and-zymtronixs-phenotyping-collaboration/): In a recently concluded project, the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and Zymtronix teamed up to conduct cutting-edge research using BTI’s state-of-the-art phenotyping facility, PhenoSight.
- [Diet, Microbes and Fat: A New Pathway Controlling Levels of Body Fat and Cholesterol](https://btiscience.org/diet-microbes-and-fat-a-new-pathway-controlling-levels-of-body-fat-and-cholesterol/): Beneficial gut microbes and the body work together to fine-tune fat metabolism and cholesterol levels, according to a new preclinical study by investigators from Weill Cornell Medicine and the Boyce Thompson Institute.
- [Tiny Plants Reveal Big Potential for Boosting Crop Efficiency](https://btiscience.org/tiny-plants-reveal-big-potential-for-boosting-crop-efficiency/): Scientists have long sought ways to help plants turn more carbon dioxide (CO₂) into biomass, which could boost crop yields. Recent research suggests that a group of unique, often overlooked plants called hornworts may hold the key.
- [Hornwort genomes provide clues on how plants conquered the land](https://btiscience.org/hornwort-genomes-provide-clues-on-how-plants-conquered-the-land/): Over 450 million years ago, plants began the epic transition from water to dry land. Among the first pioneers were the ancestors of humble hornworts, a group of small, unassuming plants that have persisted to this day. New research reveals insights into the genetic blueprints of hornworts, uncovering fascinating details about plant evolution and the early days of life on land.
- [Study Reveals Role of Allele Dosage in Improving Sweetpotato Traits](https://btiscience.org/study-reveals-role-of-allele-dosage-in-improving-sweetpotato-traits/): Sweetpotatoes are an agricultural powerhouse that feeds millions globally. However, their complex genetics make it challenging for breeders to understand and improve traits like yield, disease resistance, and nutritional content. A new study reveals insights into the significance of leveraging “allele dosages” in sweetpotato breeding practices.
- [Rising Temperatures Threaten Global Food Supply: Scientists Call for Urgent Action](https://btiscience.org/rising-temperatures-threaten-global-food-supply-scientists-call-for-urgent-action/): As atmospheric disruption accelerates, scientists are sounding the alarm about its potentially devastating impact on the world’s food supply. In a paper published by Trends in Plant Science, an international team of researchers warns that without rapid changes to how we develop climate-resilient crops, we could face widespread food shortages leading to famine, mass migration, and global instability.
- [Study Finds Genetic Mechanisms Behind High-Yield Apple Trees](https://btiscience.org/study-finds-genetic-mechanisms-behind-high-yield-apple-trees/): Apples rank among the world’s most valuable fruit crops, with production spanning more than 100 countries. Some apple trees naturally develop into what farmers call “spur-type” varieties—compact trees that are more productive and easier to maintain. But the genetic mechanisms underlying this coveted trait have remained elusive—until now.
- [Bioeconomy in Colombia: The Race to Save Colombia’s Vital Shellfish](https://btiscience.org/bioeconomy-in-colombia-the-race-to-save-colombias-vital-shellfish/): Along Colombia’s Pacific coast, a small shellfish called piangua has been a crucial part of local communities for generations. This humble mollusk is a vital source of income and nutrition for many coastal residents. As a regional resource that can be sustainably utilized, it represents a bioeconomy opportunity and is an example for other regions. But now, scientists are raising the alarm about its future.
- [Unlocking the Genetic Mysteries of Modern Roses](https://btiscience.org/unlocking-the-genetic-mysteries-of-modern-roses/): Roses are one of the world’s most beloved and widely cultivated ornamental plants, captivating hearts and adorning gardens for centuries. Despite their popularity, the genetic origins and breeding history of modern roses have remained mostly unknown. A new study has revealed fascinating insights into how the modern rose developed from its ancestors, providing valuable information for cultivating more resilient and breathtaking varieties.
- [Reflections on Dr. J. Alan Renwick (1936–2024)](https://btiscience.org/reflections-on-dr-j-alan-renwick-1936-2024/): With profound sadness, we learned of the passing of Dr. J. Alan Renwick, an esteemed emeritus professor at the Boyce Thompson Institute. He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on September 18th at the age of 88.
- [The Unexpected Protein Connection in Maize Growth and Defense](https://btiscience.org/the-unexpected-protein-connection-in-maize-growth-and-defense/): Maize (corn) is one of the most important staple crops in the world and has been extensively studied. Yet, many aspects of the genetic mechanisms regulating its growth and development remain unexplored. Recent research revealed that a family of proteins called COI1, previously associated with defense mechanisms in other plant species like Arabidopsis and rice, primarily regulates growth in maize. This finding could lead to developing more robust and productive maize varieties.
- [How Viruses Move Through Insects for Transmission of Diseases](https://btiscience.org/how-viruses-move-through-insects-for-transmission-of-diseases/): Viruses are master parasites that have adapted to infect many host species. Some viruses even use multiple hosts to spread their infections – such as arboviruses that use insects to move their infections to mammalian hosts like humans. Understanding how they move through insects could lead to new ways to block their transmission. In a study recently published in the Journal of Virology, researchers uncover the clever tactics viruses use to spread through their insect hosts and potentially infect other animals. This knowledge is particularly crucial for combating viruses that spread from insects to humans or livestock, like Zika, Dengue, and West Nile virus.
- [Faculty Cluster Hire: Promoting Collaboration in Academic Hiring](https://btiscience.org/faculty-cluster-hire-promoting-collaboration-in-academic-hiring/): In the world of academic science, hiring new faculty members typically follows a predictable pattern: candidates apply individually and are evaluated primarily on their personal achievements. What if there was a way to build more collaborative teams of scientists from the very start? That’s exactly what the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) set out to do with their innovative “cluster hire” approach.
- [Unlocking the Secrets of Salt Stress Tolerance in Wild Tomatoes](https://btiscience.org/unlocking-the-secrets-of-salt-stress-tolerance-in-wild-tomatoes/): As weather patterns shift and soil salinity increases in many agricultural areas, finding crops that can thrive in these challenging conditions is crucial. Cultivated tomatoes, while delicious, often struggle in salty soils. Their wild cousins, however, have evolved to survive in diverse and often harsh environments. A recent study delved into the genetic treasure trove of wild tomatoes to uncover secrets of salt tolerance that could be used to develop resilient crop varieties.

## Pages
- [Recommend a Student](https://btiscience.org/education-and-outreach/research-experiences/recommend-a-student/): Inspiring the next generation of scientists.
- [Alumni](https://btiscience.org/education-and-outreach/alumni/): Education & Outreach
- [High School Application](https://btiscience.org/education-and-outreach/research-experiences/high-school-research-experience/high-school-application/): Inspiring the next generation of scientists.
- [High School Research Experience](https://btiscience.org/education-and-outreach/research-experiences/high-school-research-experience/): Education & Outreach
- [Undergraduate Program Information](https://btiscience.org/education-and-outreach/research-experiences/undergraduate-research-experience/undergraduate-program-information/): Inspiring the next generation of scientists.
- [Undergraduate Research Projects & Faculty](https://btiscience.org/education-and-outreach/research-experiences/undergraduate-research-experience/undergraduate-projects/): Inspiring the next generation of scientists.
- [REU Application](https://btiscience.org/education-and-outreach/research-experiences/undergraduate-research-experience/reu-application/): Inspiring the next generation of scientists.
- [Research Experiences](https://btiscience.org/education-and-outreach/research-experiences/): Education & Outreach
- [Undergraduate Research Experience](https://btiscience.org/education-and-outreach/research-experiences/undergraduate-research-experience/): Inspiring the next generation of scientists.
- [Leila Feiz](https://btiscience.org/leila-feiz/): Senior Research Associate
- [Intern 2026 BCBC Bioinformatics Course](https://btiscience.org/facilities/bcbc/bcbc-training-consulting/intern-2026-bcbc-bioinformatics-course/): BCBC
- [Spring 2026 BCBC Bioinformatics Course](https://btiscience.org/facilities/bcbc/bcbc-training-consulting/spring-2026-bcbc-bioinformatics-course/): BCBC
- [Carmen Catalá](https://btiscience.org/faculty/carmen-catala/): Investigating how plant hormones and cellular processes regulate fruit development, especially in tomato.
- [Spring 2025 BCBC Bioinformatics Course](https://btiscience.org/facilities/bcbc/bcbc-training-consulting/spring-2025-bcbc-bioinformatics-course/): BCBC
- [Intern 2025 BCBC Bioinformatics Course](https://btiscience.org/facilities/bcbc/bcbc-training-consulting/intern-2025-bcbc-bioinformatics-course/): BCBC
- [BTI “House Rules” for Social Media Comments](https://btiscience.org/social-media-rules/): BTI “House Rules” for Social Media Comments
- [BCBC Training & Consulting](https://btiscience.org/facilities/bcbc/bcbc-training-consulting/): BTI Computational Biology Center
- [BCBC](https://btiscience.org/facilities/bcbc/): BCBC
- [David Stern](https://btiscience.org/faculty/david-stern/): Investigating how to optimize the efficiency of photosynthesis to enhance plant growth and productivity, leading to more sustainable crop production and a reduced carbon footprint.
- [Frank Schroeder](https://btiscience.org/faculty/frank-schroeder/): Development of viable approaches for the systematic identification of the more 100,000 unknown metabolites in animal model systems and the human body, many of which serve essential roles for human health and represent an untapped resource for the development of new drug leads.
- [Eric Richards](https://btiscience.org/faculty/eric-richards/): My group is exploring the influence of the environment on inheritance through a multidisciplinary approach that combines experimental interrogation and historical analysis. This work grew out of my research into mechanisms underlying chromosome organization and epigenetics. Much of my group’s early research investigated the regulation and function of cytosine methylation using genetic approaches in the flowering plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Several important findings emerged from this work, including the demonstration that so-called ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes were essential for maintenance of cytosine methylation in transcriptionally-quiescent domains of the genome. This finding showed that the direct chemical modification of the genome was dependent upon the proper configuration of the proteins that packaged and organized DNA within the nucleus. Our work on cytosine methylation mutants also demonstrated that different methylation states in the genome could be inherited with remarkable fidelity across plant generations. In other words, epigenetic defects, absent underlying DNA sequence changes, could masquerade as stable Mendelian mutations.
- [Silvia Restrepo](https://btiscience.org/faculty/silvia-restrepo/): Examining the devastating impact of plant diseases on food security, particularly for low-income growers worldwide, by investigating how pathogens evolve and spread.
- [Andrew Nelson](https://btiscience.org/faculty/andrew-nelson/): Investigating how plants use RNA-based mechanisms to regulate their responses to environmental stress, with the goal of developing crops that can better survive challenging conditions like drought, heat, and disease.
- [Lukas Mueller](https://btiscience.org/faculty/lukas-mueller/): Developing databases and software tools that organize plant genetics data, helping scientists and breeders accelerate crop improvement—especially for staple crops in food-insecure regions.
- [Fay-Wei Li](https://btiscience.org/faculty/fay-wei-li/): Exploring the evolution and genetics of seed-free plants like ferns and hornworts to understand how these overlooked organisms have survived and adapted over millions of years.
- [Magda Julkowska](https://btiscience.org/faculty/magda-julkowska/): Investigating how environmental stresses like drought and salt affect plant shape and growth, and developing innovative tools to identify crops naturally equipped to thrive in harsh conditions.
- [Georg Jander](https://btiscience.org/faculty/georg-jander/): Professor, George L. McNew Distinguished Scientist
- [Maria Harrison](https://btiscience.org/faculty/maria-harrison/): Investigating the mutually beneficial partnerships between plant roots and soil fungi that help plants absorb essential nutrients like phosphorus, which is critical for growth.
- [Jim Giovannoni](https://btiscience.org/faculty/jim-giovannoni/): The focus of research in the Giovannoni lab is the molecular and genetic analysis of fruit ripening and related signal transduction systems, with an emphasis on the relationship between fruit ripening and nutritional quality. We are also involved in the exploration of genetic diversity in tomato and its wild relatives, in addition to the development of genomics tools for Solanaceae, including participation in the International Tomato Sequencing Project. We employ several experimental systems, but the majority of our work involves the use of tomato.
- [Zhangjun Fei](https://btiscience.org/faculty/zhangjun-fei/): Developing and curating powerful genomic resources and computational tools and applying integrative bioinformatics approaches to harness vast ‘omics’ datasets for a deeper understanding of crop origin, domestication, and key traits.
- [Joyce Van Eck](https://btiscience.org/faculty/joyce-van-eck/): Investigating how plant bioengineering can be used to understand the function of genes and advance crop improvement.
- [About BTI](https://btiscience.org/about-bti/): About BTI
- [Databases](https://btiscience.org/research/databases/): Databases & Resources
- [Annual Reports](https://btiscience.org/about-bti/annual-reports/): About BTI
- [History](https://btiscience.org/about-bti/history/): BTI History
- [Visit BTI](https://btiscience.org/about-bti/visit-bti/): Visit BTI
- [Physalis Improvement Project](https://btiscience.org/physalis-improvement-project/): Improving a superfood
- [High Five Cell Line](https://btiscience.org/translational/high-five/): Translational Program
- [Center for Translational Research](https://btiscience.org/translational/translational-center/): BTI Center for Translational Research
- [Postgraduate Society](https://btiscience.org/education-and-outreach/pgs/): Promoting professional development, fostering a sense of community, facilitating communication, and ensuring representation.
- [Nicotiana benthamiana](https://btiscience.org/nicotiana-benthamiana/): Sol Genomics Network
- [Plant Growth Facility](https://btiscience.org/facilities/plant-growth-facility/): PGF
- [Mass Spectrometry](https://btiscience.org/facilities/mass-spectrometry/): Mass Spec Lab
- [Center for Plant Biotechnology Research](https://btiscience.org/facilities/cpbr/): CPBR
- [Plant Cell Imaging Center](https://btiscience.org/facilities/pcic/): PCIC
- [PhenoSight](https://btiscience.org/facilities/phenosight/): PhenoSight
- [Translational Program and Licensing](https://btiscience.org/translational/): Translating innovative research from the lab into the field, the clinic, and the global marketplace
- [News](https://btiscience.org/news/): Isako Di Tomassi spends her days studying microbes that threaten plant health. Outside the lab, she helped build a movement: a campaign that convinced hundreds of scientists to write letters and op-eds...
- [Facilities](https://btiscience.org/facilities/): BTI Facilities
- [Research](https://btiscience.org/research/): Our Research