Dr. Jeongim Kim - Principal investigator
Dr. Kim is an associate professor in the Horticultural Sciences Department and a member of the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (PMCB) graduate program. She received her PhD at Purdue University studying auxin biosynthesis and plant abiotic stress physiology. During her post-doctoral training at Purdue, she studied phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and engaged in several projects aiming to increase biofuel production. She is interested in understanding molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic networks integrating plant stress responses and growth. Google Scholar
Lab Overview
Biochemical Genetics Lab studies the biosynthesis of plant-based natural products and their regulation. Plants produce millions of small molecules and many of them are crucial for plant survival and impact on human health. We aim to enhance crop yield, stress resilience, and nutritional value in plants through genetic modification and metabolic engineering. NSF-CAREER project “Unraveling the metabolic networks underlying plant stress adaptation” focuses on elucidation of metabolic networks bridging plant growth and defense. DOE-ARPA-E project “Nickel Farming: Improving a US-native Hyperaccumulator Plant for Commercial Cultivation” establishes genetic and molecular tools to use a US native Ni hyperaccumulator for Phytomining.
If you are interested in joining to the Kim lab, email Dr. Kim at jkim6@ufl.edu.