Ibore Natukunda, Martha

• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Genetics & Genomics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 

• Ph.D., Genetics & Genomics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 

• B.S., Agriculture/Crop Science, Makerere University, Uganda

My research team is interested in contributing to development of superior high yielding crop varieties with desirable phenotypes, ultimately contributing to improvement of human livelihoods. We will utilize interdisciplinary approaches like phenotyping, transcriptomics, molecular biology, and genome-wide association analysis, to characterize the genetic basis of phenotypes in sorghum and soybean.

Next summer, we will conduct experiments to validate recently identified candidate genes controlling leaf angle in sorghum. Under my mentorship, undergraduate research assistants will set up experiments in the greenhouse and growth chambers and sample plant tissue for gene expression analysis in the lab. Students will use molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction-PCR (RT-PCR and qPCR) for gene expression analysis and learn more about additional disciplines related to genetics along the way. Students will also learn how to use publicly available data analysis tools to analyze biological datasets. Ongoing research collaborations will be continued, and new collaborations established both within and outside of South Dakota.