Plant Microbiology Capstone
School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, College of the Environment, University of Washington, Seattle
The Plant Microbiology Capstone offers students an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge in basic microbiology skills and apply them to research in a variety of environmental applications. Modern agriculture and forest practices often eliminate the natural microbial symbiotic partnerships that are vital for plant health. By understanding these symbioses and restoring plant partnerships with plants, there may be less need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Typical capstone projects in this research area include the characterization of beneficial bacteria and yeast that fix atmospheric nitrogen for their plant hosts, provide plant hormones that boost plant growth, and improve overall plant health. Some plant-associated microbes have been shown to degrade environmental pollutants. Capstone projects in this area involve the quantification of the benefit of plant-microbe partnerships for removing important environmental pollutants. Endophytic yeast provide new opportunities for biofuel production. Projects in this area involve isolating and characterizing novel yeast strains for potential use in fermentation and biochemical production. A list of previous undergraduate projects in plant microbiology in Sharon Doty's lab is in the drop-down menu.
Assoc. Professor Sharon Doty (sldoty@uw.edu)
Required courses:
Winter quarter: CFR522 Plant Microbiology Seminar, ESRM490 Plant Microbiology Laboratory, ESRM494 Capstone Proposal
Spring quarter: ESRM495 Senior Capstone Project
Optional courses:
Autumn quarter: ESRM325 Environmental Applications of Plants: Bioenergy and Bioremediation; ESRM499 Undergraduate Research
