Functional Importance of the Plant Microbiome Implications for Agriculture, Forestry and Bioenergy

Dr. Sharon Lafferty Doty is a Professor at the University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.  Her research area is on the functional importance of the plant microbiome, specifically the microbial endophytes of poplar and willow, two early successional pioneer plant genera. She is the current Chair of the working group on Environmental and Ecosystem Services of the International Poplar Commission, a branch of the United Nations (UN). She was recently elected vice president of the International Symbiosis Society (ISS) in charge of education. She is also a member of the UW Astrobiology program. Her lab is currently working with microbial strains for improved phytoremediation of organic and inorganic pollutants, and for improved plant growth, health, and stress tolerance with reduced chemical inputs.