The Park Laboratory (Molecular Biology) integrates advanced imaging platforms with biochemical and multi-omics approaches to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of host plant and and fungal pathogens cellular processes during plant-fungal interactions. The lab seeks to translate fundamental insights from these investigations into strategies for enhancing crop resilience and improving agricultural biosecurity. This research is funded by NSF-MRI “Track-I: Acquisition of a Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) Microscope to Track Molecular Dynamics in living organisms” 2025-2029 NSF-DBI # 2511928 and Collaborative Research from NSF-Plant Biotic Interaction “Investigation of the molecular and cellular bases of the Maize/Puccinia sorghi interaction” 2022-2026 NSF IOS #2126256
Michael Baldwin (Asst. Research Scientist, Science Institute) focuses on crop yield and environmental optimization in CEA production systems. Additionally, Michael's work includes cultivar screening for hydroponic production and he has evaluated over 30 crop cultivars from 8 plant families at the PGPF to date.
The Weinig lab (Botany and Molecular Biology) studies the genetics of adaptation. In the PGPF they are looking at how microbial community composition and genetics can affect the performance of target crop plants. This research is funded through NSF EPSCoR, NSF Accelerating Research Translation, and WY Excellence Chair awards.
The Laughlin lab (Botany) is developing and testing root boxes (rhizotrons) to measure rates of apical root growth in native trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers. This research is important to understand drought tolerance strategies of Wyoming plants and how they will respond to changing temperature and precipitation regimes. The research is funded by NSF.
Dr. Guadagno (Science Institute) leads a project, titled “Harnessing Controlled Environment Agriculture to Secure Sustainability and Economic Growth”. It a collaboration among the , UW, the , , and . UW leads the project’s core science components, which examine how plants and microbes interact in hydroponic systems and affect crop yield in different CEA settings - Deep Water Culture and NFT (Nutrient Film Technique). Funding: NSF2418247 (2024-2028)
