Dr. Erin Sparks

Seminar Details

Host: Dr. Juan Dong

Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm

Location: BICH Rm 108

Seminar Abstract

Climate change is threatening crop production by changing water availability, increasing crop mechanical failure (lodging), and changing disease pressure. To address the challenges of a changing climate, the Sparks lab focuses on optimizing root development and function in the context of abiotic and biotic stressors with a primary focus on maize. Our research is built on an interdisciplinary foundation ranging from molecular biology to applied engineering that serve as an input to develop predictive models for root system optimization under changing climates.