Research Assistant for Julia Kreiner, Ecology & Evolution

Opportunity Description:

The Kreiner Lab studies the genomic signatures of plant adaptation to contemporary environments. We aim to uncover the genetic patterns and evolutionary mechanisms that drive population responses to human-induced environmental changes. Our research integrates landscape-scale population sampling and herbarium genomic time-series data with molecular, experimental, and computational approaches to understand these processes in the agriculturally important weed species, Amaranthus tuberculatus. Our studies have identified genes that are important candidates for adaptive responses to environmental change.

Plant functional genomic studies are translational studies that bridge hypothesis generating experiments, like those conducted by our lab in the past, to field-changing technology. They involve inserting or removing genes from plants while keeping all other genes unchanged. This allows for evaluation of the effect of candidate genetic variants by isolating the specific effect of their presence/absence. While these approaches are powerful and have led to major discoveries that have shaped our world, they are traditionally technically difficult and hampered by limited success across diverse genetic backgrounds. Thus, functional genomic methods have been mostly limited to model species.

We are seeking an undergraduate researcher to help develop methods for genetic transformation of A. tuberculatus. This project will integrate the use of recently discovered developmental regulatory genes to increase efficacy and robustness of genetic transformation. Working alongside a postdoctoral scholar, the undergraduate will optimize a protocol for culturing callus tissue to ensure it is effective across diverse plant collections. Next, the undergraduate will evaluate the effect of various developmental genes on plant regeneration efficiency. In doing so, the project will work towards establishing a full protocol for expressing genes of interest in practically important non-model species.

Primary Responsibilities: 

Early in the project, the student will work alongside a postdoctoral mentor to study the effect of different hormone concentration on the efficacy of plant tissue culture for diverse genotypes of A. tuberculatus. During this phase, the team will discuss the principles of plant transformation to build the student’s understanding of the approach and help them plan the next phase. As they progress, the student will take ownership of the project. In this phase, the student will plan and execute experiments to optimize tissue culture and transgene design along with guidance from the postdoctoral mentor and collaborators from across the country. Throughout the project, the student will engage in lab meetings and scientific discussions, fostering critical thinking and collaborative skills. They will also have opportunities to present their work through lab presentations, departmental and division level symposia, local or national conferences, and prepare their findings for publication, developing essential communication skills for diverse audiences.

The undergraduate researcher will be embedded in the newly established Kreiner lab, in the Department in Ecology & Evolution, an inclusive and collaborative community passionate about evolutionary genomic research on plants. We aim to offer a structured, supportive experience that fosters both technical skills and personal development. The student will be encouraged to start with a curated list of less technical video summaries of complex topics in plant transformation and eventually into guided and unguided reading of primary research articles describing foundational and recent advancements in transformation techniques.

The student will participate in lab meetings, literature discussions, and collaborative research, learning through hands-on experiences. The student can expect to work with Professor Kreiner to set biweekly and quarterly goals, with regular check-ins to provide feedback, address challenges, and celebrate progress. Members of the lab will offer daily support, ensuring the student receives guidance on experimental design, research priorities and context from the field, science communication, and other aspects of research and academic life. Over time, the student will gain increasing responsibility, such as leading the development and refinement of a full plant transformation protocol, collaborating with lab members to apply their protocol to candidates identified by various projects, and preparing their findings to be published in a scientific journal. Throughout, the student will learn to think critically, collaborate effectively, and take ownership of their work.

Knowledge or skills gained from the experience: 

This research opportunity will provide the undergraduate student with hands-on experience in plant tissue culture, molecular biology techniques, experimental design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation. The student will also learn about the process of hypothesis generation through population genetic approaches and how we identified the candidate genes that we will eventually test with the protocol they help develop. These skills are marketable for a career in biotechnology research, where functional genomics experiments are vital to research and development pipelines across diverse research objectives.

Application Process: 

Contact Professor Julia Kreiner at kreiner@uchicago.edu for more information.