Dr. Craig Conner

Assistant Professor

I have studied biochemistry, cell and molecular biology (BCMB) for both my BS and PhD degrees. While I enjoy learning about all kinds of biology, for research, I have focused on understanding the biological mechanisms by which plants adapt to flooding stress. This has involved calcium signaling, intracellular, phase-separated bodies of protein and mRNA (stress granules), autophagy, and appears to shown some mechanistic overlap with the suppression of gene silencing during infection with certain plant viruses.

For research, I did postdoctoral research at the Carnegie Institute for Plant Sciences, but my main professional goal has been in biology education. After my PhD, I taught courses in biochemistry and advanced cell biology, as well as introductory cell and molecular biology. During this time I also got interested in educational research. I am most passionate about interacting with students and guiding them to discover and appreciate the strategies that cells use to survive, adapt and thrive.