Jordan Brock - Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, 2015.
Jordan is currently a graduate student in Evolution, Ecology, and Population Biology at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. For up-to-date information, visit his website: www.jordanrbrock.com
Previous Bio:
I am an undergraduate at the University of Arizona majoring in Plant Sciences. I have a deep “seeded” interest in evolutionary phylogenetics and the vast utility of important and emerging agronomic crops. Through selective breeding and genetic modification, plants have the potential to increase global nutrition and curb world hunger, contribute to energy sustainability and carbon sequestration, and serve as primary producers of chemical compounds for pharmaceuticals important for human health. Moreover, as world population increases, we will have to increase food and fuel production and these goals must be achieved using resources, such as water and fertilizers, more efficiently.
Specifically, I study Camelina sativa, an emerging oil-seed biofuel crop. Little is known about the diversity and history of the genus Camelina, with most research focused on the most widely cultivated species, Camelina sativa. In contrast, the potential genetic diversity in closely related species has been widely overlooked. By collecting populations of various species of Camelina I hope to expand our understanding for the improvement of breeding programs. As part of this project, I’ve embarked on three international field collection trips to gather seeds, leaf material and herbarium specimens from various species. As part of the Beilstein lab I've had the opportunity to discover populations of Camelina abroad, specifically in Turkey, Armenia and Georgia. Currently I am using molecular phylogenetic approaches to understand the relationships among these species.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy riding bicycles, hiking, gardening and horticulture. For years I’ve cultivated rare and exotic fruits in my backyard greenhouse. One of my hobbies is the cultivation and breeding of tropical plants in controlled environments. I am the author of a website for temperate and controlled environment tropical plant cultivation (www.edibletropicalplants.com).
Jordan is currently a graduate student in Evolution, Ecology, and Population Biology at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. For up-to-date information, visit his website: www.jordanrbrock.com
Previous Bio:
I am an undergraduate at the University of Arizona majoring in Plant Sciences. I have a deep “seeded” interest in evolutionary phylogenetics and the vast utility of important and emerging agronomic crops. Through selective breeding and genetic modification, plants have the potential to increase global nutrition and curb world hunger, contribute to energy sustainability and carbon sequestration, and serve as primary producers of chemical compounds for pharmaceuticals important for human health. Moreover, as world population increases, we will have to increase food and fuel production and these goals must be achieved using resources, such as water and fertilizers, more efficiently.
Specifically, I study Camelina sativa, an emerging oil-seed biofuel crop. Little is known about the diversity and history of the genus Camelina, with most research focused on the most widely cultivated species, Camelina sativa. In contrast, the potential genetic diversity in closely related species has been widely overlooked. By collecting populations of various species of Camelina I hope to expand our understanding for the improvement of breeding programs. As part of this project, I’ve embarked on three international field collection trips to gather seeds, leaf material and herbarium specimens from various species. As part of the Beilstein lab I've had the opportunity to discover populations of Camelina abroad, specifically in Turkey, Armenia and Georgia. Currently I am using molecular phylogenetic approaches to understand the relationships among these species.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy riding bicycles, hiking, gardening and horticulture. For years I’ve cultivated rare and exotic fruits in my backyard greenhouse. One of my hobbies is the cultivation and breeding of tropical plants in controlled environments. I am the author of a website for temperate and controlled environment tropical plant cultivation (www.edibletropicalplants.com).
