Principal Investigators

Our principal investigators are leading cutting-edge research in plant biology and genetics to create solutions for food security and environmental challenges. Fueled by a passion for changing the world through plant science, their labs make critical discoveries and develop new technologies that propel the plant science community forward.

PI’s at a Glance

Leaders and Innovators

31

scientific teams with 199 funded projects

10

startup companies launched by faculty

2

members of the National Academy of Sciences

Featured Principal Investigator

Nigel Taylor, PhD

Areas of Research

Crop Improvement

Members

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DAllen-3406-1.jpg" alt="">

Douglas Allen, PhD

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Rebecca Bart, PhD

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Ivan Baxter, PhD

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Armando Bravo, PhD

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Tessa Burch-Smith, PhD

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James Carrington, PhD

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Justin Conover, PhD

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Kevin Cox, PhD

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Andrea Eveland, PhD

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Malia Gehan, PhD

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Elizabeth A. Kellogg, PhD

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Toni Kutchan, PhD

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Allison Miller, PhD

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Dmitri Nusinow, PhD

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Sona Pandey, PhD

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Dilip Shah, PhD

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Nadia Shakoor, PhD

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R. Keith Slotkin, PhD

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Erin Sparks, PhD

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Nigel Taylor, PhD

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Christopher Topp, PhD

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James Umen, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SWang_6362.jpg" alt="">

Sam Wang, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Bing-Yang.jpg" alt="">

Bing Yang, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SML_Ru-Zhang-1436.jpg" alt="">

Ru Zhang, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DAllen-3406-1.jpg" alt="">

Douglas Allen, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC91499.jpg" alt="">

Rebecca Bart, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IBaxter-5592.jpg" alt="">

Ivan Baxter, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ArmandoBravo_Web.jpg" alt="">

Armando Bravo, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Dr.-Tessa-Burch-Smith.jpg" alt="">

Tessa Burch-Smith, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_Carrington_headshot1.jpg" alt="">

James Carrington, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WEB-Justin-Conover-PhD-1024x684.jpg" alt="">

Justin Conover, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/WEB_Kevin-Cox.jpg" alt="">

Kevin Cox, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB-Andrea-Eveland-DH.jpg" alt="">

Andrea Eveland, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MGehan-7245.jpg" alt="">

Malia Gehan, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC1120.jpg" alt="">

Elizabeth A. Kellogg, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_PI-Toni-Kutchan-A730004-f-2.jpg" alt="">

Toni Kutchan, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC1818.jpg" alt="">

Allison Miller, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC04246.jpg" alt="">

Dmitri Nusinow, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SPandey-5633.jpg" alt="">

Sona Pandey, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_Dilip-4-DPSC-4838.jpg" alt="">

Dilip Shah, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Headshot2021_NShakoor_web.jpg" alt="">

Nadia Shakoor, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC05068.jpg" alt="">

R. Keith Slotkin, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/web-Erin-Sparks-PhD-1024x684.jpg" alt="">

Erin Sparks, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/NigelTaylorPHD.jpg" alt="">

Nigel Taylor, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC9762a.jpg" alt="">

Christopher Topp, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_Main_Umen.jpg" alt="">

James Umen, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SWang_6362.jpg" alt="">

Sam Wang, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Bing-Yang.jpg" alt="">

Bing Yang, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SML_Ru-Zhang-1436.jpg" alt="">

Ru Zhang, PhD

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Directors

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_KCD.jpg" alt="">

Kristine Callis-Duehl, PhD

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Kirk Czymmek, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_PI-Main-Noah-.jpg" alt="">

Noah Fahlgren, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Don-MacKenzie-medium-cropped.jpg" alt="">

Donald MacKenzie, PhD

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Katie Murphy, PhD

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Veena Veena, PhD, MBA

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/WEB-Russell-Williams-Headshot-1024x684.jpg" alt="">

Russell Williams, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_KCD.jpg" alt="">

Kristine Callis-Duehl, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Kirk.jpg" alt="">

Kirk Czymmek, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_PI-Main-Noah-.jpg" alt="">

Noah Fahlgren, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Don-MacKenzie-medium-cropped.jpg" alt="">

Donald MacKenzie, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/WEB_PI_Katie-Murphy.jpg" alt="">

Katie Murphy, PhD

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Veena Veena, PhD, MBA

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Russell Williams, PhD

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Senior Research Scientists

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/WEB-PI-MAIN-Sandra.jpg" alt="">

Sandra Arango-Caro, PhD

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Cody Bagnall, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/WEB_Getu-ADJ-7928.jpg" alt="">

Getu Beyene Duguma, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WEB-Ruth-Kaggwa-profile.jpg" alt="">

Ruth J. Kaggwa Asiimwe, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Adj-3478-3.jpg" alt="">

Mao Li, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Nar.jpg" alt="">

Narayanan Narayanan, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Bala_V.jpg" alt="">

Bala P. Venkata, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/WEB-PI-MAIN-Sandra.jpg" alt="">

Sandra Arango-Caro, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/WEB-CODY-BAGNELL-1024x684.jpg" alt="">

Cody Bagnall, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/WEB_Getu-ADJ-7928.jpg" alt="">

Getu Beyene Duguma, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WEB-Ruth-Kaggwa-profile.jpg" alt="">

Ruth J. Kaggwa Asiimwe, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Adj-3478-3.jpg" alt="">

Mao Li, PhD

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<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Nar.jpg" alt="">

Narayanan Narayanan, PhD

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Bala P. Venkata, PhD

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Core Facilities