Dr. Alisa Huffaker

Biography

Alisa Huffaker is the Chancellor’s Endowed Chair in Plant Biology at the University of California, San Diego. She obtained her Ph.D. from the Institute of Biological Chemistry at Washington State University, followed by postdoctoral training in plant defense signaling. Her research focuses on plant peptide signals, specifically Plant Elicitor Peptides (Peps), which regulate the plant's defense responses to pathogens and herbivores. Her work highlights the mechanisms by which plants perceive and respond to biotic stressors, employing a range of techniques to investigate the interplay between these signaling molecules and their receptors. Through her studies, she seeks to understand the complexity of plant immunity and the potential applications in enhancing crop resistance to diseases and pests. This research aims to decode the specificity of Pep-induced responses and identify molecular components that can be utilized to improve plant fortification against various attackers.

Research Interests