On the Vine - March

Andrea Eveland and Edoardo Bertolini in a Danforth Center greenhouse.

A-Maize-ing Discovery

A team led by Andrea Eveland, PhD, has uncovered factors that control pleiotropy—a phenomenon where a single gene influences multiple traits. Their study, recently published in Nature Communications, sheds new light on how certain genes in maize can be modulated to optimize crop productivity. Read more.

A 3D reconstruction of the cell contents of a single-celled alga.

Never Before Seen

Danforth Center scientists Tessa Burch-Smith, PhD, and Kirk Czymmek, PhD, are embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to develop advanced plant science imaging procedures. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, this project will spark new insights into how plant cells and tissues function—and help to bring about better, healthier, crops. Read more.

Dr. Giles Oldroyd presenting his TED Talk.

(TED Talk) Our Next President

Giles Oldroyd, PhD, President-elect of the Danforth Center, believes that “the next green revolution is going to be the microbial revolution.” In his recently released TED Talk, Dr. Oldroyd discusses how self-fertilizing plants could help feed the world and also protect our planet. Watch the TED Talk here.

Inaugural Kemper Fellow Olivia Gomez with Danforth Center President Jim Carrington David Kemper Dr. Jim Umen and Jenny Hoelzer.

First Kemper Fellow Awarded

Olivia Gomez, a fifth-year PhD student in the Umen lab, has recently been named the inaugural William T. Kemper Plant Science Fellow. This new fellowship, endowed by the Kemper Foundation, will support outstanding PhD students whose research demonstrates great promise for advancing plant science. Read more.

Metablify Named Start-Up to Watch

Danforth Center spinout Metablify, co-founded by members of the Baxter lab, was named a 2025 Startup to Watch by St. Louis INNO. The company, which developed a breakthrough technology platform that could revolutionize medicine and agriculture, won the Danforth Center’s Big Ideas competition in 2023. Read more.

Sona Pandey and Boominathan Mohanasundaram in the lab.

(LISTEN) The Beauty of Bogs

Bogs are a boon to our planet but face some serious threats. At the Danforth Center, Sona Pandey, PhD, is studying a key species of bogs, sphagnum moss, and uncovering how we can use it to preserve our natural environment. Learn more in a new story from Northern Public Radio.

Docent Robbye Frank learning about plant transformation from Danforth Center Principal Investigator Dr. Veena Veena.

Docents: Champions of Plant Science

For many people, our remarkable docents serve as the face of the Danforth Center, welcoming in new guests and spreading the word of our mission. In our new blog post, you can learn all about this dedicated group of volunteers and the impact they’re having on our community. Read more.

Partners for Progress

Corporate Partners at the Danforth Center make a real difference—locally and globally. By joining our mission, your organization can support groundbreaking research, empower the next generation of scientists through STEM education, and drive innovation that fuels economic growth here in St. Louis and around the world. Learn more.