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Robert VanBuren received his PhD from the University of Illinois in 2014, focusing on the evolution of plant sex chromosomes under the guidance of Ray Ming. Before joining the faculty at Michigan State University (MSU), he was a National Science Foundation plant genome postdoctoral fellow at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, where he worked with Todd Mockler on the evolution of drought-induced CAM photosynthesis. VanBuren joined the Department of Horticulture at MSU in 2016. His lab utilizes an integrative genomic and quantitative genetics approach to understand the genetic basis of natural adaptations in plants, with the goal of targeted crop improvement. His research specifically focuses on the evolution of CAM photosynthesis and extreme desiccation tolerance in resurrection plants. He employs conventional marker-assisted breeding techniques coupled with systems biology approaches to enhance drought tolerance in underutilized crop species. His ongoing projects aim to establish genetic and genomic resources for orphan grain crops such as tef and finger millet, to improve their yield, stress tolerance, and forage potential.
Department of Psychology