A Locally Grown Scientist
Kevin Cox Jr. was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. A self-described “proud St. Louis native,” Kevin built the foundation for his career at local schools, attending elementary and high school in the Hazelwood School District and receiving his bachelor’s degree in biology from University of Missouri—Saint Louis (UMSL).
While he was an undergraduate student at UMSL, Kevin developed an interest in microbiology, fascinated by microbes’ potential to harm or support our immune systems. It was during this time that he first arrived at the Danforth Center, starting as an undergraduate lab assistant in Todd Mockler’s lab. That was his first exposure to plant science research, and he never looked back.
As he began to develop an interest in plant biology, he noticed striking similarities between human and plant strategies for fighting off disease. “To me, these defense mechanisms were complex but fascinating,” Kevin says, “and that ultimately inspired me to study plant pathology to help feed the world.”
Mapping Out the Future of Plant Science
From there, Kevin went on to earn a PhD in plant pathology at Texas A&M University and returned to the Danforth Center to continue the plant disease resistance research he was so passionate about. Today, his lab is dedicated to studying spatial genomics, or the spatial organization of genes in plants.
“I think of spatial genomics as taking a blank map of the U.S.A. and labeling the state borders, cities and towns, rivers, and roads that it consists of,” he explains. “If we can pinpoint or map out where genes are located in plants, we can better understand how plant cells communicate to grow and defend themselves against stresses.”
The more that is understood about these processes, the better-equipped scientists will be to discover new ways to improve crops’ climate resilience, yield, and defenses against pests and disease. That possibility is a major inspiration for Kevin. “The potential to make an impact is one of the things that motivates me every day,” he says. “Each day brings a new opportunity to make a scientific discovery.”
Rooted in Community
Beyond a purely scientific impact, Kevin is deeply invested in building connections with fellow scientists. In his daily work, he sees great value in collaborating with team members to approach the problem-solving situations that research so often presents.
Sometimes, these collaborations reach well beyond the walls of his own lab. “The great thing about my career is that I get to collaborate with other talented scientists from different parts of the world to improve agriculture and feed a growing population,” he says.
Other times, the opportunities for connection and community are right here in St. Louis. Kevin is especially proud of his network of colleagues, from friends and collaborators to mentors and role models. He’s grateful for those who encouraged him on his journey and makes it a priority to do the same for others. “I’m provided with an opportunity to inspire and mentor the next generation of scientists,” Kevin says. “Whether we are one experiment away from a breakthrough, or I can help my mentees reach their full career potential, that is enough motivation for me to get up every day and work.”
