Research Interests

We are cell biologists devoted to advancing our knowledge of the cytoskeleton and intracellular motility in plant and fungal cells. Our ongoing investigations include the dynamics of microtubules and actin microfilaments during plant cell division and cell growth; Functions of kinesin motor proteins in mitosis and cytokinesis; Molecular mechanisms of cytoskeleton-mediated hyphal growth in filamentous fungi. Experiments are carried out in organisms like Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa (rice), and Gossypium hirsutum (cotton) which are used as reference systems for plant studies, and Aspergillus nidulans as a model for fungal studies.

Graduate Program Affiliations

• Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Group
• Plant Biology Graduate Group