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.

Leaders and Innovators

30

scientific teams with 110 funded projects

10

startup companies launched by faculty

2

members of the National Academy of Sciences

Featured Principal Investigator

Douglas Allen, PhD

Areas of Research

Central Carbon Metabolism, Metabolic Flux Analysis, Photosynthesis, Carbon Partitioning, Lipid and Protein Biosynthesis and Turnover

Members

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

Douglas Allen, PhD

Learn More

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

Rebecca Bart, PhD

Learn More

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

Ivan Baxter, PhD

Learn More

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

Armando Bravo, PhD

Learn More

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

Tessa Burch-Smith, PhD

Learn More

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

James Carrington, PhD

Learn More

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

Andrea Eveland, PhD

Learn More

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

Malia Gehan, PhD

Learn More

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

Elizabeth A. Kellogg, PhD

Learn More

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

Allison Miller, PhD

Learn More

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

Dmitri Nusinow, PhD

Learn More

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

Sona Pandey, PhD

Learn More

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

Dilip Shah, PhD

Learn More

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

R. Keith Slotkin, PhD

Learn More

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

Nigel Taylor, PhD

Learn More

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

Christopher Topp, PhD

Learn More

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

James Umen, PhD

Learn More

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

Sam Wang, PhD

Learn More

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

Bing Yang, PhD

Learn More

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

Ru Zhang, PhD

Learn More

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

Douglas Allen, PhD

Learn More

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

Rebecca Bart, PhD

Learn More

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

Ivan Baxter, PhD

Learn More

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

Armando Bravo, PhD

Learn More

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

Tessa Burch-Smith, PhD

Learn More

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

James Carrington, PhD

Learn More

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

Andrea Eveland, PhD

Learn More

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

Malia Gehan, PhD

Learn More

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

Elizabeth A. Kellogg, PhD

Learn More

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

Allison Miller, PhD

Learn More

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

Dmitri Nusinow, PhD

Learn More

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

Sona Pandey, PhD

Learn More

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

Dilip Shah, PhD

Learn More

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

R. Keith Slotkin, PhD

Learn More

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

Nigel Taylor, PhD

Learn More

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

Christopher Topp, PhD

Learn More

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

James Umen, PhD

Learn More

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

Sam Wang, PhD

Learn More

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

Bing Yang, PhD

Learn More

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

Ru Zhang, PhD

Learn More

Show AllShow Less

Directors

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

Kristine Callis-Duehl, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ADJ-9123-2.jpg" alt="">

Kirk Czymmek, PhD

Learn More

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

Noah Fahlgren, PhD

Learn More

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

Donald MacKenzie, PhD

Learn More

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

Katie Murphy, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/adj-0874.jpg" alt="">

Veena Veena, PhD, MBA

Learn More

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

Kristine Callis-Duehl, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ADJ-9123-2.jpg" alt="">

Kirk Czymmek, PhD

Learn More

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

Noah Fahlgren, PhD

Learn More

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

Donald MacKenzie, PhD

Learn More

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

Katie Murphy, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/adj-0874.jpg" alt="">

Veena Veena, PhD, MBA

Learn More

Senior Research Scientists

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

Kevin Cox, PhD

Learn More

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

Getu Beyene Duguma, PhD

Learn More

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

Molly Hanlon, PhD

Learn More

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

Ruth J. Kaggwa Asiimwe, PhD

Learn More

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

Mao Li, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WEB_SRS-Peng-Liu-Headshot.jpg" alt="">

Peng Liu, PhD

Learn More

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

Narayanan Narayanan, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Matt-Rubin-1.jpg" alt="">

Matthew Rubin, PhD

Learn More

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

Nadia Shakoor, PhD

Learn More

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

Bala P. Venkata, PhD

Learn More

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

Kevin Cox, PhD

Learn More

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

Getu Beyene Duguma, PhD

Learn More

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

Molly Hanlon, PhD

Learn More

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

Ruth J. Kaggwa Asiimwe, PhD

Learn More

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

Mao Li, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WEB_SRS-Peng-Liu-Headshot.jpg" alt="">

Peng Liu, PhD

Learn More

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

Narayanan Narayanan, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Matt-Rubin-1.jpg" alt="">

Matthew Rubin, PhD

Learn More

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

Nadia Shakoor, PhD

Learn More

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

Bala P. Venkata, PhD

Learn More

Show AllShow Less

Up Next

Core Facilities