Question 1

Overview

Accepted Answer

The von Wettberg lab studies evolutionary ecology, ecological genetics, and conservation genetics in crops, crop wild relatives, and rare plants. Research done in the lab encompasses agroecology and conservation as well as ecology and evolution. We are interested in understanding how plants tolerate environmental stress, how stress tolerance evolves, and how variation in tolerance affects interactions with other organisms. In the lab we work with a broad range of tools from genomics and next-generation sequencing, to physiology, to field biology. We try to collaborate widely to test hypotheses in a number of ecological communities from beautiful places abroad and close to home in Vermont. We hope to foster knowledge within local and global communities, working with other scienctists and farmers to grow better crops.

Question 2

Current Research

Accepted Answer

In the lab this year (2020-2021) Giovanna Sassi is working on a project on Hops, Bailey Kretzler is heading a pasture-managment and intercropping study, Mackenzie Laverick is working on a bio-drilling tuberous-legumes project, and Matthew Foster is working with Hemp and Native Abenaki Beans. Work is also being done with winter peas, seed storage, and genetic diversity.

Question 3

Past Research

Accepted Answer

In past, Eric has wokred with wild chickpeas in Turkey and Ethiopia as part of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Chickpea.
 
Projects with mangos, North American Medicago species, and several rare plants in South Florida and the Caribbean have occured under his guidance.
 
Recently, Andi Kur headed a project on corn domestication and Edward Marques worked on many projects dealing with winter peas. Work has also been done on Fenugreek, lupine, and various other legumes.

Question 4

Research Grants

Accepted Answer

USAID, Feed the Future Program  2013-2018
A Reverse Introgression approach to creating climate resilient chickpea (Co-PI, Dr. DR Cook)
 
NSF, Plant Genome Research Program   2013-2017
Deducing the genomic footprint and functional impact of chickpea domestication on nitrogen fixation
(co-PI, Dr. DR Cook)
 
HHMI Faculty Teaching Fellow   2012-2013
Improvement of undergraduate evolution teaching at Florida International University
 
NSF, Plant Genome Research Program  2008
Genomics of salinity tolerance in desert Medicago truncatula
PI S. Nuzhdin, UC Davis based lead Co-PI with D. Cook, S Strauss, M. Friesen
 
NIH, National Research Service Award   2007-2009
Genomics of Nickel tolerance in Arabidopsis lyrata

Question 5

Assoicated Farms

Accepted Answer

Philo Ridge Farm
UVM Horticulture Farm
UVM Greenhouse

What's Growing?

CONTACT

CURRENT PROJECTS

ERIC BISHOP-VON WETTBERG

Participating Farms and Research Locations