PI, Aaron Rashotte
I am the Principal Investigator (PI) or head of the lab. My interests are in plant growth and development and the hormone cytokinin including studying N-conjugated forms. Specifically I am focused on understanding the function of CRFs from a perspective of their roles with cytokinins, development, and abiotic stress. My examination of all things CRF in Arabidopsis, tomato and other species has lead to findings that involve this group and a range of processes that span development, cytokinin, and abiotic stress responses.
Full Publication List (Google Scholar)
Current Lab Members
Graduate Students
Malsha Thennakoon – PhD – Studying effects of cis- and trans-Zeatin cytokinin forms in delaying senescence
Risheek Khanna – PhD – Studying effects of N-conjugate cytokinin forms during natural and salt stress related senescence.
Omar Hasannin – PhD – Studying effects of N-conjugate cytokinin forms during natural and oxidative stress related senescence.
Undergraduate Researchers
Ashley Buchheit
Lauren Weiner
Former Lab Members
Abby Guillemette – (Graduate MST 2023) – The Effects of Chronic Elevated Temperatures on Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Tuber Development. Co-advised by Dr. Courtney Leisner.
Ariel Hughes (Graduate Ph.D. 2020) Examination of the Functions of Clade III Cytokinin Response Factors in Relation to Cytokinin and the Oxidative Stress Response
Tucker Hallmark (Graduated Ph.D. 2020) The Roles of Cytokinin and Cytokinin-N-Glucosides in Development and Gene Expression of Arabidopsis thaliana
Erika Keshishian (Graduated Ph.D. 2018) CRF2 and Its Role in Cytokinin Response and Abiotic Stress
Rachel Powell (Graduated MST 2018) Comparative Genomics of Cis-Regulatory Elements in Cytokinin Response Factors Across the Plant Taxa
Paul J. Zwack (Graduated Ph.D. 2015) Expression and Functional Roles of Cytokinin Response Factor Proteins in Arabidopsis
Xiuling Shi (Graduated Ph.D. 2013) Characterization of Tomato Cytokinin Response Factor Genes SlCRF1 and SlCRF2 in Tomato Growth and Development
Sarika Gupta (Graduated Ph.D. 2013) Characterization of CRF domain containing ERF genes- Solanum lycopersicum Cytokinin Response Factors SlCRF3 and SlCRF5 in tomato development
Margaret Compton (Graduated MST 2012) Cytokinin Response Factor 4: A Role in Development During Cold Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana
Dana Gerken – Lab Tech
Former Undergraduate Researchers (Alphabetically)
Cami Adams (Undergraduate Research Fellow), Madalyn Argo, Cris Bangert, Kendra Bettis, Natalie Brown, Lucy Chae, Annie Clark, Lauren Collins, Terri Call, Nathan Camp, Adelinn Chiang, Brannan Cliver, Wes Cutcliffe (Research Tech/Undergrad Researcher (DAAD Fellow)), Nick Davis, Rudy Davis, Belinda Davidson, Francesca Dipietro, Lukas Dill, Steele Dykes, Sarah Early, Kolton Farmer, Molly Finley, Kenneth Floyd, Galatia Ford, Andrew Fort, Edie Gibson, Tucker Hallmark, Elyse Johnson, Travia Johnson, Leonard Jordan, Shauntelle Kreutzer, Charis Leonard, Alainoia Lewis, Yuhan, Li, Rebecca Linden, Hannah Lindsey, Josh Littlefield, Fred Lowrey, William McLaughlin, Sarah Martin, Hannah Merren, Winston Miller, Katie Musall, Dryden Neilson, Allison Nilsen, Kaki Oberman, Rob Oberman, Nnedi Obichi, Llandess Owens, Alyssa Parish, Lauren Peytavin, Shaterrika Pointer, Linnea Pepper (CMB Undergraduate Summer Research Scholar), John Reilly, Tyler Rice, Ashley Richey, Monica Risley, Bruce Robinson (CMB Undergraduate Summer Research Scholar), Peter Rogers (CMB Undergraduate Summer Research Scholar), Kelsey Rushing, Natasha Sanderfer, Alex Self, Katherine Shelly, So Hee Shin, Sophie Smith, Tanner Smith, Ryan Spahn, Beverly Spisak, Elizabeth Swartout, Camilla Thompson, Connor Townsend, Jamie Turnbull, Lesley Turner, Collin Young, Emily Waide, Courtney Willett, Paul Zwack