Dr. Kirk J Czymmek
- Please tell us about yourself and your research/institution.
I am a microscopist and specialize in plant-microbe interactions as a Principal Investigator and Director of the Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. In my current role, I apply and develop advanced microscopy tools in plant science dedicated to producing more nutritious food and improving the environment. I received my doctorate in Botany and Plant Pathology at Michigan State University and did a post-doctoral position at the DuPont Company in CR&D Plant Molecular Genetics group before a career encompassing both academia and industry. My expertise in most forms of light, x-ray and electron microscopy, including super-resolution microscopy, cryo-techniques and correlative microscopy has enabled me to develop and apply cutting-edge microscopy tools for imaging cells, tissues and biomaterials.
- What motivated you to get into plant science?
My family grew cash crops, including alfalfa, timothy, and high-quality hay for the racehorses. As the middle child of seven on the farm, I was a laborer. It was hot, hard work, but the free-range childhood inspired my early interest in science. I went to college with a focus on biology and the courses I enjoyed the most were my plant systematics class, microbiology, and electron microscopy. I’m a very visual person, and looking through the eyepieces of any microscope opened a whole new world to me with seemingly unlimited opportunities for discovery.
As the world’s warming continues, plants will be more stressed and vulnerable. Under higher humidity and warmer environmental conditions, fungi and other pathogens thrive, and diseases once limited to the tropics continue to spread. Disease resistance and crop protection strategies are important for plants so we can figure out how to grow more food in challenging conditions. We need more productivity to feed the world. Advanced imaging is a very important tool to help us solve these challenges.
- How have you used (Agrisera) antibodies in your research?
Both over my career and in ongoing research, Agrisera is my first stop for a trusted source to find high quality antibodies (e.g. for cell walls, cytoskeleton, organelles, to name just a few) for molecular and imaging plant applications. What I especially like is their comprehensive documentation on what approaches, citations and/or protocol overviews a particular antibody has been demonstrated and suitable for. This ultimately saves a lot of time and money without having to guess if it works or not.
- Any further comments?
Joanna Porankiewicz-Asplund is an OUTSTANDING resource if you are trying to get technical guidance and support, either before you start or already working with Agrisera antibodies. In addition, if you have used an antibody and it worked great, let her know and she can share exemplary data for others in the plant community.
Links
• Dr. Kirk J Czymmek
• Agrisera cell wall antibodies
• Agrisera antibodies to proteins building Cytoskeleton