Speaker: Dae Kwan Ko, assistant professor, fixed term, at Michigan State University in the Plant Research Laboratory, the Department of Plant Biology, and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center.

Title: "Decoding plant gene regulation: Empowering insights through systems-level approaches, genomics, and network analysis"

Abstract: I am a plant biologist who is passionate about addressing critical biological questions through hypothesis-driven approaches and applying these findings to crop improvement. My research is founded on three fundamental core values. The first focuses on investigating complex gene regulation, emphasizing the roles of cis-regulatory elements and transcription factors. The second core value centers on genomics, which offers a global perspective by characterizing genes comprehensively, enabling us to address biological questions from a global viewpoint. The third is network biology, which explores intricate molecular interactions, creating complex networks that govern gene regulation. With them, my research aims to attain a systems-level understanding of gene regulation underlying significant agronomic traits. My research has contributed to unraveling the gene regulatory mechanisms governing plant growth, responses to abiotic stress, and proteostasis. In my future research, I will delve into plant-microbe interactions using cutting-edge single-cell genomics technologies to enhance plant resilience toward climate change.

Host: Joe Aung, GDCB assistant professor