{"id":22422,"date":"2019-04-15T15:04:40","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T22:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vermont.salk.edu\/?page_id=22422"},"modified":"2026-03-12T16:01:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T23:01:28","slug":"meet-the-scientists","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the scientists"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Harnessing Plants Leadership Team:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n

Wolfgang Busch<\/strong><\/a>
\nLab website<\/a>
\nProfessor, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory
\nHess Chair in Plant Science
\nHPI Executive Director<\/p>\n

Busch takes a systems genetics approach to plant biology, combining genomics and other techniques to identify the genes governing root growth and increased suberin content. In a study published in 2019, the Busch lab identified a gene<\/a> that regulates root depth. Finding this molecular switch is important proof that HPI is on the right track.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n

\u7ea6\u745f\u592b\u00b7\u57c3\u514b\u5c14<\/strong><\/a>
\nLab website<\/a>
\nProfessor, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory
\n\u57fa\u56e0\u7ec4\u5206\u6790\u5b9e\u9a8c\u5ba4\u4e3b\u4efb
\nHoward Hughes Medical Institute Investigator
\nSalk International Council Chair in Genetics<\/p>\n

Having led efforts to sequence the first plant genome and map the first plant epigenome, Ecker has long been a force in plant genomics\/epigenomics. His work continues to help HPI improve carbon storing in plants. In 2019, Ecker\u2019s group provided new insights<\/a> into how gene editing affects plants, research that could make these techniques more precise.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n

Julie Law<\/strong><\/a>
\nLab website<\/a>
\nAssociate Professor, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory<\/p>\n

The Law lab studies how epigenetic modifications translate into cellular activity. She is particularly focused on chromatin binding proteins, which play an important role in DNA packaging and gene expression. In tandem, Law is investigating the best ways to modulate the genes associated with suberin production.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n

Todd Michael<\/strong><\/a>
\nLab website<\/a>
\nResearch Professor, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory<\/p>\n

Michael\u2019s work combines genomic sequencing with computational biology to better understand the genomic distinctions that help different plants thrive in certain environments. By studying multiple genomes, Michael\u2019s team seeks to clarify the genetic networks that govern how plants interact with their surroundings. The Michael lab is keenly focused on the genomics behind carbon sequestration and how plants adapt to climate change.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n

Lena Mueller<\/strong><\/a>
\nLab website<\/a>
\n\u52a9\u7406\u6559\u6388<\/p>\n

Mueller is a plant biologist who studies the symbiotic relationship between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Her research reveals the basis for healthy plant symbiosis and can be applied to engineer crops that take up nutrients more efficiently, are more resilient to environmental stresses, and hold more carbon underground in their roots.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n

Joseph Noel<\/strong><\/a>
\n\u6559\u6388\u517c\u4e3b\u4efb
\n\u6770\u514b H. \u65af\u57fa\u5c14\u9c8d\u5c14\u5316\u5b66\u4e0e\u86cb\u767d\u8d28\u7ec4\u5b66\u4e2d\u5fc3
\nArthur and Julie Woodrow Chair<\/p>\n

Noel studies the compounds plants produce to adapt to their environments. His work has illuminated the structure of suberin, the carbon-storing plant polymer that will be essential to HPI\u2019s success. Because these molecules resist decomposition, and are packed with carbon atoms, they are excellent carbon storage mechanisms that enhance soil vitality.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n

Talmo Pereira<\/strong><\/a>
\nLab website<\/a>
\n\u7d22\u5c14\u514b\u7814\u7a76\u5458<\/p>\n

Pereira develops and applies artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to study the processes that give rise to biological motion. His research helps make sense of how humans behave during health or disease, how plant roots sequester carbon, and how the nervous system coordinates complex behavior.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
In Memoriam
\n1955 – 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n

Joanne Chory<\/strong><\/a>
\nHPI Founding Director<\/p>\n

Chory pioneered genetic studies that illuminated how plants adjust their size, shape, and form to optimize growth and photosynthesis. Over her career, Chory detailed the complex signaling networks that control plant growth and development in response to environmental change. She leveraged this vast knowledge and experience to develop plants with increased root mass and other key traits. Chory died in 2024.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Harnessing Plants Leadership Team:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n

Wolfgang Busch<\/strong><\/a>
\nLab website<\/a>
\nProfessor, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory
\nHess Chair in Plant Science
\nHPI Executive Director<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":22319,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"folder":[547],"class_list":["post-22422","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMeet the scientists - Salk Institute for Biological Studies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"zh_CN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meet the scientists - Salk Institute for Biological Studies\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Harnessing Plants Leadership Team: Wolfgang Busch Lab website Professor, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory Hess Chair in Plant Science HPI Executive Director\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Salk Institute for Biological Studies\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-12T23:01:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.salk.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/wolfgang-busch-767-1.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/harnessing-plants-initiative\\\/meet-the-scientists\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/harnessing-plants-initiative\\\/meet-the-scientists\\\/\",\"name\":\"Meet the scientists - Salk Institute for Biological Studies\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/harnessing-plants-initiative\\\/meet-the-scientists\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/harnessing-plants-initiative\\\/meet-the-scientists\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/04\\\/wolfgang-busch-767-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-04-15T22:04:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-12T23:01:28+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/harnessing-plants-initiative\\\/meet-the-scientists\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"zh-CN\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/harnessing-plants-initiative\\\/meet-the-scientists\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"zh-CN\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/harnessing-plants-initiative\\\/meet-the-scientists\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/04\\\/wolfgang-busch-767-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/04\\\/wolfgang-busch-767-1.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/harnessing-plants-initiative\\\/meet-the-scientists\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Harnessing Plants Initiative\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/harnessing-plants-initiative\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Meet the scientists\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/\",\"name\":\"Salk Institute for Biological Studies\",\"description\":\"The Power of Science\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"zh-CN\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Salk Institute for Biological Studies\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"zh-CN\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/03\\\/salk_logo_696.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/03\\\/salk_logo_696.jpg\",\"width\":696,\"height\":696,\"caption\":\"Salk Institute for Biological Studies\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.salk.edu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Meet the scientists - Salk Institute for Biological Studies","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/","og_locale":"zh_CN","og_type":"article","og_title":"Meet the scientists - Salk Institute for Biological Studies","og_description":"The Harnessing Plants Leadership Team: Wolfgang Busch Lab website Professor, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory Hess Chair in Plant Science HPI Executive Director","og_url":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/","og_site_name":"Salk Institute for Biological Studies","article_modified_time":"2026-03-12T23:01:28+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.salk.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/wolfgang-busch-767-1.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/","url":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/","name":"Meet the scientists - Salk Institute for Biological Studies","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/www.salk.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/wolfgang-busch-767-1.jpg","datePublished":"2019-04-15T22:04:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-12T23:01:28+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"zh-CN","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"zh-CN","@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/www.salk.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/wolfgang-busch-767-1.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/www.salk.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/wolfgang-busch-767-1.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Harnessing Plants Initiative","item":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Meet the scientists"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/","name":"\u7d22\u5c14\u514b\u751f\u7269\u7814\u7a76\u6240","description":"The Power of Science","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"zh-CN"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/#organization","name":"\u7d22\u5c14\u514b\u751f\u7269\u7814\u7a76\u6240","url":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"zh-CN","@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"http:\/\/www.salk.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/salk_logo_696.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/www.salk.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/salk_logo_696.jpg","width":696,"height":696,"caption":"Salk Institute for Biological Studies"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"ACF":{"hero":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/shutterstock_77646694-webheader1.jpg","line_1":"Harnessing Plants Initiative","line_2":"Meet the Scientists","poster_quote":"","salk_custom_body_class":"","gallery":false,"secondary_navigation":"<div class=\"menu-harnessing-plants-initiative-container\"><ul id=\"menu-harnessing-plants-initiative\" class=\"menu\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-22469\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/\">Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-22461\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/meet-the-scientists\/\">Meet the scientists<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-28501\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/research\/\">Research<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-22459\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/in-the-news\/\">In the News<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-22457\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/harnessing-plants-initiative\/join-us\/\">Join Us<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-23424\"><a href=\"https:\/\/salkinstitute.donorsupport.co\/-\/XRPYEXCB\">Donate<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22422"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56224,"href":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22422\/revisions\/56224"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=22422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}