Research Areas

The Field of Plant Biology encompasses a broad range of research interests, including:

• Chloroplast and Mitochondrial Biology
• Genomics of Plant Diversity
• Plant Development, Structures and Reproduction
• Plant Interactions with the Abiotic and Biotic Environment
• Plant Systematics, Evolution and Paleobotany
 

Concentrations

Historically, the Field of Plant Biology has been divided into nine "concentrations":

• Cytology
• Paleobotany
• Plant Biochemistry
• Plant Cell Biology
• Plant Ecology
• Plant Molecular Biology
• Plant Morphology, Anatomy & Biomechanics
• Plant Physiology
• Systematic Botany

These terms are still used to help define the composition of PhD thesis committees. They are required on the graduate application to the Field, on the "Special Committee Selection and Change Form" and on the "Results of Examination Form". A list of Faculty members by Concentration is available. However, many biological questions are now approached at various levels, e.g. integrating molecular genetics data to evolution or integrating biochemistry with physiology and cell biology.