Mapping and Engineering Cell-Type-Specific Gene Regulatory Networks in Plants for Enhanced Stress Resilience

Our lab uses cutting-edge functional genomics approaches—single-cell transcriptomics, DAP-seq, and our newly developed multiDAP—to chart the cell-type-specific gene regulatory networks that govern plant development and stress responses. We are particularly interested in hormonal signaling under conditions such as drought, cold, and salinity, where these networks often shift in subtle but critical ways. Through mutational analyses and massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs), we pinpoint the regulatory elements and key transcription factors that drive these responses. Ultimately, by comparing networks within and across species, we aim to engineer new stress-resilient or high-value traits into a variety of crops, from closely related strains to distantly related plants, supporting both agricultural productivity and bioenergy initiatives.

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