arabidopsisThe Plant Gene Expression Center (PGEC) conducts fundamental research in plant molecular biology. Researchers are elucidating the signal transduction pathways responsible for the perception of environmental and cellular cues. We are exploring disease resistance, light perception, the circadian clock, vegetative growth and the plant-associated microbiome. Essential genes and the networks within which they operate are elucidated using molecular, genetic and biochemical approaches.

The PGEC is a collaboration of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Plant & Microbial Biology Department of the University of California, Berkeley. The Center's principal investigators are faculty at UC Berkeley, and research opportunities are available in our laboratories for graduate and undergraduate students.

Welcome to new PGEC Members

Robbie Calderon, a recent Ph.D. from Kris Niyogi's lab in the Plant and Microbial Biology Dept., UC-Berkeley, joined Peter Quail's lab in June, as a postdoctoral fellow. Laura Silva-Rosales, from CINESTAV in Mexico City, started her sabbatical in Sarah Hake's lab in August. JiKai Li, a recent Ph.D.from Fangqing Guo's lab in the Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, will join Jenn Fletcher's lab as a postdoctoral fellow in September. Click "Read more" to find out more about their work at the PGEC. Posted 08/27/2015.

Welcome to PMB Rotation Students

First year graduate students in the Dept. of Plant and Microbial Biology at UC-Berkeley spend 10 weeks each in 3 different labs, before selecting a home for their thesis project. For the first rotation period, we will have 3 students - Brianna Haining, a graduate of NYU-Abu Dhabi, is in the Hake Lab, Heidi Wipf, a graduate of Univ. Pittsburgh, is in the Coleman-Derr lab, and Thai (nickname Dat) Dao, a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, is in the Fletcher Lab. Posted 08/27/2015.

Collaborative Grant with John Innes Centre

Sarah Hake and Rico Coen have been awarded a bilateral grant, "Unraveling the Grass Leaf", funded by the National Science Foundation in the USA and by the BIO program of the BBSRC in England. Click "Read more" for a link to Rico's home page. Posted 08/27/2015.

Pictures from David Hantz and Jim Tepperman Retirement Party

Party cake
After their fabulous careers at the PGEC, we all joined to celebrate the retirements of David Hantz and Jim Tepperman, with a party at Ocean View Park. Click "Read more" to see more pictures. Posted 8/19/2015.

Appointments and Promotions

Jennifer Fletcher was promoted to Adjunct Professor and Devin Coleman-Derr was appointed as an Assistant Adjunct Professor, in UC-Berkeley's Dept. of Plant and Microbial Biology.Congratulations! Posted 8/19/2015.

Two Grad Students Join PGEC Labs

Alyssa Anderson joined the Hake Lab, and Siwen Deng joined the Coleman-Derr Lab. Posted 8/19/2015.

New Greenhouse Manager

Lia Poasa
Lia Poasa is the PGEC Greenhouse Manager as of October 2014. She formerly served as Greenhouse Manager for the Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Oregon, for four years. After a lifetime in Oregon, she moved to the Bay Area, bringing more than 10 years of experience in nursery greenhouse production and management to the PGEC. Click "Read More" to find out what she does when not taking care of plants. Posted 8/19/2015.

Two Grad Students Join PGEC Labs

Emma Kovak joined the Harmon Lab and Angus Vajk joined the Hake Lab. Posted 07/02/2014.

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