Sheen Lab
People
   

People

  Elena Baena-González Research Fellow
Education MSc, University of Oulu, Finland; PhD, University of Turku, Finland
Interests Sugar sensing and signaling

I am interested in signaling processes that operate ubiquitously in nature, such as those related to nutrient and energy status, and on how they have been modified to the needs of autotrophic and multi-cellular plants. My research focuses on the connection of these pathways to the stress response: how stress-associated energy deficit is sensed and how the signal is transduced to trigger transcriptional changes that restore homeostasis and allow adaptation to ever-changing environmental conditions. To keep my own homeostasis, I combine work in the lab with lindy-hop dancing, sports, cooking, hiking, languages, and very amateur singing.
 
  Marie Boudsocq Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests Functions of CDPKs in stress, defense and hormonal signaling
 
Jenifer Bush Greenhouse Manager
Education
Interests

I manage the plant growth facilities for the Ausubel and Sheen labs. Our facilities consist of numerous reach-in growth chambers, six controlled environment walk-in rooms, a plant tissue culture lab, and two greenhouses. When I'm not tending plants at work, I am caring for plants at my home greenhouse and gardens. I also keep bees and currently have 4 hives.
 
  Ok Kyong Chah Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests MAPK cascade signaling and transcription control

I am interested in innate immunity signaling pathway. I am currently working on figuring out down stream of MAPK cascade in flg 22 pathway.


 
Young-Hee Cho Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests Sugar sensing & signaling

Glucose signaling is mediated by a glucose sensor, HXK1, which led my research to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying HXK1-dependent glucose signaling using a proteomics approach. This finding supports the idea that ancient and conserved enzymes/proteins of well-established activities may perform previously unrecognized functions with different partners in distinct cellular compartments and signaling pathways. More recently, I have become involved in using a powerful cell genetics tool by incorporating the genomic information and genetic resources of Arabidopsis into mesophyll protoplast systems.
 
  Gonçalo DeSouza-Filho Visiting Professor
Education PhD
Interests Innate immunity and MAPK cascade signaling




 
  Qi Hall Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests Sugar & hormone signaling

 
  Ping He Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests Plant innate immunity

My research interest lies in elucidating signaling networks in plant innate immunity. The innate immune system provides the first line of defense against infectious diseases. Plants have developed specific receptors to sense invading microbes and activate a complex signaling network, thereby leading to immunity. Understanding signal transduction in plant innate immunity could potentially provide genetic resources to improve our resistance against a broad spectrum of pathogens.

 
  Joonyup Kim Research Fellow
Education MS, Seoul National University; PhD, University of Wisconsin
Interests Auxin signaling and MAPK

Auxin, one of the phytohormones, plays various but crucial roles in plant development. I would like to understand how MAPKs are involved in the regulation of auxin signaling in Arabidopsis. I am also interested in the identification of the targets of Arabidopsis nuclear glucose sensor, hexokinase1 and the functions in the development, specifically in hormonal relationships.
  Horim Lee Research Fellow
Education PhD, Seoul National University
Interests Regulation of meristem development and signal transduction

I am interested in plant stem cell regulation in shoot apical meristem. Now, I am trying to figure out the function of MAPK cascade in shoot stem cell regulation through molecular and genetic approaches. A lot of mechanisms and regulations are mixed in shoot apical meristem to maintain stem cell population. I hope to elucidate these complex biological mechanisms.
 
  Li Li Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests Plant embryogenesis and sugar signaling in Arabidopsis

My long-term subject in the lab is to develop an embryonic transforming system in Arabidopsis and identify regulatory genes controlling patterning and stem cell identity during the early stages of plant embryos. Integrating the signaling network controlled by glucose and plant hormones using Arabidopsis mutants and transgenic lines.
 
  Pauline Lim Administrative Assistant
Education AB, Visual and Environmental Studies, Harvard College
Interests Art, music, biking, hiking, running, swimming, eating

Professional artist and musician (http://www.paulinelim.net).
 
  Kun-Hsiang ( Odiel) Liu Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests Nitrate and hormonal signaling
 
  Matthew McCormack Research Fellow
Education PhD, Biochemistry, Boston University; Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics, Northeastern University; Certified Bioinformatics Specialist, National Bioinformatics Institute

I use computer applications, databases and programming to analyze data, predict biological information, and aid in clarity of data presentation. More specifically, my interests are with analyzing gene expression data and modeling biological networks, especially with regard to cell signaling pathways. In the Sheen lab, my analysis has been focused on MAPK cascades, CDPK pathways, and pathways involved in regulation of sugar metabolism as they occur in Arabidopsis.
 
  Matthew Ramon Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests Sugar sensing and signaling, development

I am interested in the role of the sugar sensor HXK1 and the energy sensors KIN10/11 in plant growth and development, and in the molecular mechanisms through which they mediate responses to environmental stimuli.

 
  Libo Shan Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests Plant innate immunity

Most of the time plants are pretty and healthy, although they are constantly challenged by different kinds of potential pathogens. I am curious how plants have developed protective strategies that allow them to fend off most potential infections. I am also interested in how successful pathogens have evolved complex virulence weapons. Outside the lab, I like gardening and cooking. I have two girls and do many activities with them.
 
  Guillaume Tena Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests MAPK signaling cascades
 
  Sang-Dong Yoo Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests Stress & hormonal signaling

My research is focused on elucidating evolutionarily conserved MAPK cascades mediating extracellular stress and stress-related hormone signaling using Arabidopsis as a model system. My research is currently expanding to systems approaches harnessing high-throughput sequencing and computational biology tools to systematically and comprehensively understand intertwined plant MAPK cascade signaling.

 
  Yan Xiong Research Fellow
Education PhD
Interests Nutrients, stress and MAPK cascade signaling

Living organisms need to sense and respond to changes in their environments to adapt their physiology and make developmental decisions to promote survival. In eukaryotic organisms, including plants, the Target Of Rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway is a global regulator that controls cell growth. Using Arabidopsis as a model system, I am trying to understand the function of TOR signaling pathway in plant growth, development and stress response, and determine how this signaling pathway is regulated.







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