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 21st 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.
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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 |
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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 |
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TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY A friendly group of over 120 members; Internationally and culturally diverse |
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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:
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- Modeling photosynthesis in dynamic environments
- Resistance against pathogens, herbivores and environmental stress
- Cell organization and metabolism
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Sustainable 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
Future Scientists
We pride ourselves in providing graduate students and postdocs with:
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- 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
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Brief History
A brief history of the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, from its beginnings in 1965 to present day.
Selected Milestones & Achievements
- 55+ years of scientific research and achievements. Read more about the history of the PRL.
- Three current or emeritus faculty National Academy of Sciences members and many past members
- Three Highly Cited Researchers over the last five years, according to Thompson Reuters/Clarivate
- Past members have gone on to work at National Institutes of Health, The Plant Cell, Children’s National Hospital, Soli Organic, ThermoFisher Scientific and have been recognized with multiple awards
- Postdocs have gone on to run labs at the University of Hawaii, Bishop's University, Utica University and more
- 22 technologies patented by our faculty
members in the last five years
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.
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