About

We are a premier research institute embedded at Michigan State University and funded by the US Department of Energy and other funding bodies. Our mission is to discover how photosynthetic organisms work on the molecular level, in order, ultimately, to develop technologies that improve human lives.

What We Stand For

Many solutions for 21^st century problems will come from photosynthetic organisms. We need to understand how their components work together and how they thrive in natural environments, so that we can harness them for sustainable applications.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS FOCUS Basic research on photosynthesis, metabolism, and defense; Creating new technologies targeting renewables, agriculture, and medical fields

EXCELLENT TRAINING 50 years of training successful scientists; Legacy of awards and job placements in academia, industry, and government

SCIENTIFIC IMPACT 12 internationally recognized researchers; Prolific publication record; Major funding from the US Department of Energy

COLLECTIVE POWER Cross-disciplinary research that tackles big scientific problems impossible to solve in individual labs

TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY A friendly group of over 120 members; Internationally and culturally diverse

See code of ethics

"PRL members are creative, intelligent, dedicated, healthy-living people at the forefront of plant science and synthetic biology,” Eric Young, graduate student

What We Do

We focus on basic science of photosynthetic organisms, develop real-world applications, and provide a training ground for future scientists.

Fundamental Research

Basic research into the biology of plants, cyanobacteria, and algae. Projects include:

Modeling photosynthesis in dynamic environments
Resistance against pathogens, herbivores, and environmental stress
Cell organization and metabolism

view projects

Green Solutions

Innovative, ground-breaking applied research to address energy and food challenges:

New technologies, used in over 26 countries, to diagnose plant health and performance
Engineering bacteria for industrial and medical applications
Green economy: biofuels and renewables through algae and microbial communities

View Projects Our Tech

Science instrument clipping over a plant leaf

Future Scientists

We pride ourselves in providing graduate students and post-docs with:

Quality research and educational environment
Strategic institutional goals that allow trainees to pursue well-defined research projects
Freedom to pursue individual research interests
Legacy of prominent and award-winning alumni in academia and beyond

more Information

Brief History

1965

The Beginnings

We are initially sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). Our main mission is to study radiation damage in plants in case of a nuclear disaster.

1969

Full Capacity Reached

The MSU-AEC Plant Research Lab is fully staffed and moved into its new quarters at Michigan State University.

1975-8

DOE: A New Mission

The Atomic Energy Commission is replaced by the Department of Energy. We are now called the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, and our mission is to study basic plant processes, especially with regard to the growth of plants as a renewable resource.

1997

First Group Projects

We want to tackle big scientific problems that are impossible to do in individual labs. Collaborative projects involve multiple researchers from within and beyond our walls.

2006

Probing Photosynthesis

Research is redirected to better match the priorities of the two Biosciences programs (Photosynthetic Systems and Physical Biosciences) in DOE’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences, addressing the fundamental science of energy capture, conversion, and storage in plants and microbes.

2013

Synergy: A Way of Life

The group project model started in the 90s becomes the norm for all our research funded by the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences. At any one time, we pursue three major group projects involving all our 12 labs.

2015

A Golden Anniversary

We celebrate our 50^th anniversary.
For more of our history, check out "The First Fifty Years."

2020

PRL at 55: What Comes Next?

PRL Director, Christoph Benning, reports on the state of the PRL.
Click to see the slides.

Selected Milestones & Achievements

A sample of achievements by current and former PRL members. The list items below change each time the browser is reloaded.

Eighteen National Academy of Sciences members, including three current or emeritus faculty
Five Highly Cited Researchers over the last five years, according to Thompson Reuters/Clarivate
Discovered COI1 as the receptor for jasmonate, a plant defense hormone
Discovered a cytosolic bypass and G6P shunt for the Calvin-Benson Cycle in plants
Discovery of the mechanism for the biosynthesis of ABA, a plant stress hormone
Discovered that the 32kd photosynthetic protein is the receptor for a common herbicide

Plant Biology Labs building seen from the gardens

Selected Funders

Our core interdisciplinary research is funded by the US Department of Energy. Our labs also pursue independent research projects funded by other organizations.

Grant # DE-FG02-91ER20021

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