Overview

Why study plants?

The 21st century presents a number of key challenges for the future of human society.

• Millions of people are chronically malnourished and millions more lack food security.
• The widespread use of fossil fuels is altering the atmosphere, leading to climate changes that affect ecosystems and the well-being of mankind.
• Fossil fuel reserves are steadily declining, threatening our future energy supply.

Within this context, plants and algae have never been more important to people.

• Plants and algae are the ultimate source of all our food, and produce fibers and countless compounds that are pivotal for industrial and medicinal purposes.
• Plants and algae use sunlight energy to convert carbon dioxide and inorganic nutrients into organics compounds. This assimilation of carbon dioxide plays a key role in establishing and maintaining the atmospheric composition, with far reaching implications for earth climate.
• The organic compounds generated by photosynthesis can also provide a renewable source of energy (biofuels).

However, significant research advances in the Plant Sciences will be necessary to achieve sustainable agricultural systems and a steady supply of renewable resources for, among others, the health and energy industries. Our future depends on students willing to take on these challenges.

Plant Sciences Program at UNL

Plants are complex -the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana has almost as many genes as humans- and fully understanding their structure and function requires integrated approaches involving biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science. At the same time, new technological developments in genomics, bioinformatics, and genetic engineering are creating unprecedented possibilities to combine plant breeding and agronomic practices with emerging knowledge about health, nutrition, and biofuels. The goal of our Plant Sciences program is to train students in this integrative manner, allowing them to explore the frontiers of knowledge as well as preparing them for many interesting and worthwhile career opportunities. We offer graduate training in both basic and applied aspects of plant biology and all accepted students benefit from very competitive stipends. Please see Plant Systems Biology (PhD in Biological Sciences) and Nebraska Molecular Plant Breeding (PhD in Agronomy and Horticulture) under Programs.