Optimizing Plant Resilience
Erin Sparks Lab
Research Interests
Erin Sparks’ research uses interdisciplinary and multi-scale approaches to optimize plant resilience under abiotic and biotic stressors, for example, by applying a unique blend of principles of mechanical engineering and the genetics of root development.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Erin Sparks
Principal Investigator, Bond LSC
Associate Professor of Plant Science and Technology
Associate Member and Principle Investigator, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
phone(573) 884-1784
email esparks@missouri.edu
Erin Sparks has a BS in Biomedical Engineering, a PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology, and Postdoctoral experience in Plant Molecular Biology. Sparks’ research uses interdisciplinary and multi-scale approaches to optimize plant resilience under abiotic and biotic stressors. She was a faculty member at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute and the University of Delaware for 8 years. Sparks joined the University of Missouri as a joint faculty member with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in 2025.
LAB MEMBERS
Research Topics
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Crop improvement and agricultural sustainability
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Developmental biomechanics
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Genomic tools and systems biology
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Multi-omics and bioinformatics tools
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Software engineering
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Crop improvement and agricultural sustainability
-
Developmental biomechanics
-
Genomic tools and systems biology
-
Multi-omics and bioinformatics tools
-
Software engineering
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May 12, 2026
Sleeping your way to better immunity?
Mizzou researchers link poor sleep to weaker immune responses and reduced vaccine effectiveness The effectiveness of flu vaccination could be hindered by poor sleep like the fragmented sleep patterns experienced with sleep apnea. | Adobe Stock image By Sophie Rentschler | MU Division of Research Poor sleep’s consequences may ripple far beyond feeling tired in the morning; it could also weaken how well vaccines protect you. In a new study, University of Missouri researchers found that chronically fragmented sleep (CSF) reduces both the strength and quality of immune responses, potentially limiting the effectiveness of influenza vaccination. “Many people today struggle…
March 3, 2026
Seizing an epidemiological opportunity
The World Cup brings together millions of people. With them, come pathogens and an opportunity to study their spread. | Adobe Stock image 2026 FIFA World Cup wastewater presents chance for Mizzou professor to track traveling pathogens By Sophie Rentschler | MU Division of Research The structure of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is an epidemiologist’s dream. Five million visitors from across the world will amass to watch or play in the soccer competition, and Marc Johnson sees this clustering of people as pathogen data collection opportunity. Kicking off on June 11, 2026, the World Cup is slated to welcome…
Jan. 26, 2026
Warren recognized for outstanding achievement by The Academy of Science of St. Louis
Congratulations are in order for Bond LSC’s Wes Warren. He is among honorees of the The Academy of Science — St. Louis for 2026. Receiving the Fellows Award for Outstanding Achievement in Science, the Bond LSC principal investigator and Curators’ Professor of Genomics in the Division of Animal Sciences, Department of Surgery, and the Data Science and Informatics Institute joins six prominent scientists and one collaborative program in receiving accolades. They will be officially recognized at an awards ceremony April 8, 2026, at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Read the full release below. ——- Monday, January 26, 2026 THE…