Principal Investigators

Our principal investigators are leading cutting-edge research in plant biology and genetics to create solutions for food security and environmental challenges. Fueled by a passion for changing the world through plant science, their labs make critical discoveries and develop new technologies that propel the plant science community forward.

PI’s at a Glance

Leaders and Innovators

30

scientific teams with 110 funded projects

10

startup companies launched by faculty

2

members of the National Academy of Sciences

Featured Principal Investigator

Sam Wang, PhD

Areas of Research

Cell Signaling, Lipid Metabolism, Vegetable Oil Production, P/N Use Efficiency, Drought Response

Members

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DAllen-3406-1.jpg" alt="">

Douglas Allen, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC91499.jpg" alt="">

Rebecca Bart, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IBaxter-5592.jpg" alt="">

Ivan Baxter, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ArmandoBravo_Web.jpg" alt="">

Armando Bravo, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Dr.-Tessa-Burch-Smith.jpg" alt="">

Tessa Burch-Smith, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_Carrington_headshot1.jpg" alt="">

James Carrington, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/WEB_Kevin-Cox.jpg" alt="">

Kevin Cox, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB-Andrea-Eveland-DH.jpg" alt="">

Andrea Eveland, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MGehan-7245.jpg" alt="">

Malia Gehan, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC1120.jpg" alt="">

Elizabeth A. Kellogg, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_PI-Toni-Kutchan-A730004-f-2.jpg" alt="">

Toni Kutchan, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC1818.jpg" alt="">

Allison Miller, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC04246.jpg" alt="">

Dmitri Nusinow, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SPandey-5633.jpg" alt="">

Sona Pandey, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_Dilip-4-DPSC-4838.jpg" alt="">

Dilip Shah, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Headshot2021_NShakoor_web.jpg" alt="">

Nadia Shakoor, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC05068.jpg" alt="">

R. Keith Slotkin, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/NigelTaylorPHD.jpg" alt="">

Nigel Taylor, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC9762a.jpg" alt="">

Christopher Topp, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_Main_Umen.jpg" alt="">

James Umen, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SWang_6362.jpg" alt="">

Sam Wang, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Bing-Yang.jpg" alt="">

Bing Yang, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SML_Ru-Zhang-1436.jpg" alt="">

Ru Zhang, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DAllen-3406-1.jpg" alt="">

Douglas Allen, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC91499.jpg" alt="">

Rebecca Bart, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IBaxter-5592.jpg" alt="">

Ivan Baxter, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ArmandoBravo_Web.jpg" alt="">

Armando Bravo, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Dr.-Tessa-Burch-Smith.jpg" alt="">

Tessa Burch-Smith, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_Carrington_headshot1.jpg" alt="">

James Carrington, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/WEB_Kevin-Cox.jpg" alt="">

Kevin Cox, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB-Andrea-Eveland-DH.jpg" alt="">

Andrea Eveland, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MGehan-7245.jpg" alt="">

Malia Gehan, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC1120.jpg" alt="">

Elizabeth A. Kellogg, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_PI-Toni-Kutchan-A730004-f-2.jpg" alt="">

Toni Kutchan, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC1818.jpg" alt="">

Allison Miller, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC04246.jpg" alt="">

Dmitri Nusinow, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SPandey-5633.jpg" alt="">

Sona Pandey, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_Dilip-4-DPSC-4838.jpg" alt="">

Dilip Shah, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Headshot2021_NShakoor_web.jpg" alt="">

Nadia Shakoor, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC05068.jpg" alt="">

R. Keith Slotkin, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/NigelTaylorPHD.jpg" alt="">

Nigel Taylor, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC9762a.jpg" alt="">

Christopher Topp, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_Main_Umen.jpg" alt="">

James Umen, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SWang_6362.jpg" alt="">

Sam Wang, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Bing-Yang.jpg" alt="">

Bing Yang, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SML_Ru-Zhang-1436.jpg" alt="">

Ru Zhang, PhD

Learn More

Show AllShow Less

Directors

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_KCD.jpg" alt="">

Kristine Callis-Duehl, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Kirk.jpg" alt="">

Kirk Czymmek, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_PI-Main-Noah-.jpg" alt="">

Noah Fahlgren, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Don-MacKenzie-medium-cropped.jpg" alt="">

Donald MacKenzie, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/WEB_PI_Katie-Murphy.jpg" alt="">

Katie Murphy, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/adj-0874.jpg" alt="">

Veena Veena, PhD, MBA

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/WEB-Russell-Williams-Headshot-1024x684.jpg" alt="">

Russell Williams, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_KCD.jpg" alt="">

Kristine Callis-Duehl, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Kirk.jpg" alt="">

Kirk Czymmek, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WEB_PI-Main-Noah-.jpg" alt="">

Noah Fahlgren, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Don-MacKenzie-medium-cropped.jpg" alt="">

Donald MacKenzie, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/WEB_PI_Katie-Murphy.jpg" alt="">

Katie Murphy, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/adj-0874.jpg" alt="">

Veena Veena, PhD, MBA

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/WEB-Russell-Williams-Headshot-1024x684.jpg" alt="">

Russell Williams, PhD

Learn More

Show AllShow Less

Senior Research Scientists

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/WEB-PI-MAIN-Sandra.jpg" alt="">

Sandra Arango-Caro, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/WEB_Getu-ADJ-7928.jpg" alt="">

Getu Beyene Duguma, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WEB-Ruth-Kaggwa-profile.jpg" alt="">

Ruth J. Kaggwa Asiimwe, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Adj-3478-3.jpg" alt="">

Mao Li, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Nar.jpg" alt="">

Narayanan Narayanan, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Bala_V.jpg" alt="">

Bala P. Venkata, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/WEB-PI-MAIN-Sandra.jpg" alt="">

Sandra Arango-Caro, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/WEB_Getu-ADJ-7928.jpg" alt="">

Getu Beyene Duguma, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WEB-Ruth-Kaggwa-profile.jpg" alt="">

Ruth J. Kaggwa Asiimwe, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Adj-3478-3.jpg" alt="">

Mao Li, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Nar.jpg" alt="">

Narayanan Narayanan, PhD

Learn More

<img src="https://www.danforthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WEB_Bala_V.jpg" alt="">

Bala P. Venkata, PhD

Learn More

Up Next

Core Facilities