Stephen Randall, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Research
My laboratory uses biochemistry and molecular genetics to characterize molecular mechanisms by which plants respond and adapt to environmental stresses such as cold and drought conditions. Thus we are conducting proteomic and genetic analysis to identify cellular components important for these processes.
We focus on Arabidopsis, cultivated strawberry, and soybean. Some plants are able to develop stress tolerance (to cold, drought, salt, etc.) but many, including most crop plants are unable to adapt. Dehydrins are proteins whose expression is associated with embryonic and vegetative developmental pathways that involve osmotic, water, and salt stress.
Indeed, when they are overexpressed in plants, they confer increased stress tolerance. They are found in all higher plants, being expressed in a variety of cell and tissue types.
Much of my work focuses on study of the roles and functions of the dehydrin family, particularly in response to cold and drought stress. Our experimental goal is to understand the biochemical and physiological mechanisms that underlie the role of these proteins, in particular, the impact of regulation of calcium-binding activity of these proteins by phosphorylation.
Education
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, Biology B.S., 1976
- Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, Plant Biology Ph.D., 1982
- Univ of Maryland, College Park, MD, Botany Postdoc, 1982-1987
- McGill University, Montreal, PQ, Biochemistry Postdoc, 1987-1990
Publications & Professional Activity
Awards
2011 Service Award, School of Science, IUPUI
2012 Directors Mentoring Award, Center for Research and Learning, IUPUI. For Leadership and Mentoring of Undergraduate Research