News

Computational biology allows researchers to look at models that would never exist in nature but still offer valuable insights into the world around us. This was the leading idea behind a new study from the Vermaas lab at the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory (PRL), published in ACS Omega, which looks at the formation of cell membranes.

Keeping a lab going is no small feat – it requires the dedication of many to keep operations running. In the Plant Research Laboratory’s Kerfeld lab, Damien Sheppard is one of those dedicated people keeping the lights on. 

The Kende award recognizes the best doctoral dissertation in plant sciences at MSU over the past two years

The MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory celebrates 60 years of research, innovation, and community

Plant researchers are racing to build climate-resilient crops before global food systems reach a breaking point

Danny Ducat's lab is working to unravel how cyanobacteria manage the carbon fixation process.

MSU researcher develops new approach to uncover how crops stay resilient under stress, offering insights for improving resilience in crops and guiding future breeding

How cooperation and sustained research lead to a discovery 34 years in the making

At the intersection of biology and computation, this postdoc studies how nanoscale protein shells control the flow of life’s essential molecules.

Dr. Andrew D. Hanson, C.V. Griffin Sr. Eminent Scholar and Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences, leaves a legacy of groundbreaking contributions as a visionary in plant biology.

Researchers are looking at how plants and algae can protect themselves from attacks from within

New research reveals photorespiration is essential for producing a crucial nutrient for preventing birth defects.

The MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory hosts Congressional Staffers touring federally funded research facilities, showing the impact plant science has on the lives of Americans

Brandizzi is a prolific researcher within the plant science community and the next PRL director

How the development of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism led to innovation in the plant sciences, agriculture and human health

Undergraduate students are brought to MSU to research and study plants and photosynthetic microbes

MSU student project outlines plan to turn sorghum into a living chemical factory, enabling cheaper sustainable domestic energy

A newly discovered pathway in a plant process could help farmers grow more successful crops, particularly in places where harsh, high light stresses plants.

Sharkey’s prolific career in the plant sciences spans continents and scientific topics, touching on the lives of many researchers who continue to work in the field today

A new project is underway that could help researchers understand the evolution of the chloroplast.

A natural alternative to pesticides may be hiding in a misunderstood plant compound — but it could come at an environmental cost.

If a protein faces the wrong way, it could lead to eye and neurological diseases

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at Michigan State University have uncovered how Amazon rainforest canopy trees manage the intense sunlight they absorb.

Three Michigan State University faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences this year.

PRL Director Christoph Benning was named Fellow by the American Society of Plant Biologists.

Christoph Benning, Michigan State University researcher, inventor and one of the world's foremost experts in plant lipid metabolism, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

Renovations include a new headhouse and greenhouses. The final stage is expected to be complete by November 2026.

Anne Steensma, Deepak Bhandari and Maureen Hanson are this year's Anton Lang awardees.

The Great Lakes region is poised to become an epicenter for plant science collaboration as Michigan State University prepares to host the inaugural Great Lakes Plant Science Conference. 

Plant scientists from labs and research groups across MSU will present 'The World of Plants,' a showcase featuring 17 unique booths dedicated to different aspects of plant science, at the 2025 SciFest STEAM Expo Days.

Sarkar will be working as a staff scientist at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.

Researchers in the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory Sharkey lab are studying changes in plant metabolism that occur when plants are grown in high light, high CO2 conditions.

User-friendly platform predicts which proteins trigger gene expression, enabling scientists to engineer more productive and hardy crops

This past summer, graduate student Bianca Serda had the opportunity to participate in the Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program.