About

Research
I focus on plant genomics in two contexts. One is with a view to understanding how planta modify their genomes in response through stress environments, while the second is using genomics to domesticate a wild legume that grows in the arid regions of southern Africa to provide an alternative crop for resource poor farmers is such regions. These projects are supported by efforts of undergraduate and graduate students
including international collaborators. Flax is the model system for rapid genomic restructuring under stress environments, where, during growth under appropriate conditions the plant restructures a subset of the genome in response to the stress environment. These variants can be transmitted to the next generation resulting in altered phenotypes. My lab has near telomere-to telomere genome assemblies of parental and next generation progeny. This process is a possible underlying mechanism for the origins of the plant pangenomes. The wild legume focus is on the marama bean, a species that is endemic to the kalahari sands of southern Africa. It has never been grown as a crop but collect from wild plants by the local populations. Through the development of a large underground tuber that acts as water storage organ this plant provides seeds even in severe drought years. My lab has developed a near complete chromosomal assembly for this plant. Genomic- based variants to select seeds for distribution to subsistence farmers in the region are being conducted in an international collaboration with faculty in South Africa and Namibia.

Teaching Interests
I have taught many different courses including Genetics, a Biotechnology Laboratory and currently teach Plant Genomics and Proteomics, for which I have written a textbook (Plant Genomics, Wiley 2025). This course has been developed and presented as a synchronous virtual course.

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