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Give      University of Florida

Horticultural Sciences

Horticultural Sciences

Dr. Karen E. Koch

Professor

Mailing Address:
Fifield Hall
2550 Hull Road
PO Box 110690
Gainesville, Florida 32611

Office: 2147 Fifield Hall
Phone: (352) 273-4833
E-mail: kekoch@ufl.edu

  • Areas of Research

    Physiology and genetics of sugar metabolism, sensing, and partitioning

  • Teaching Responsibilities

    HOS 6345: Environmental Physiology of Plants (4cr grad)

    BCH-BOT 6925: Plant Biochemistry - Central Metabolism (4cr grad)

    Mentoring: Highschool Interns (~1), Undergraduate Interns (~5), PhD students (~2), Postdoctoral Associates (~1), and Associate Research Professors (~1). Each has their own mentees and helps train new lab members.

  • Educational Background

    BA: Biology, University of Wisconsin

    MS, Ph.D.: Botany, Plant Physiology, University of Iowa

    Postdoc: Agronomy, Genetics, University of Wisconsin

    Professor: Horticultural Sciences, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, Genetics Institute, Center for Smell and Taste, University of Florida, 1981-present.

  • Community Service and Honors

    Awards

    Charles Reid Barnes Life Membership Award, American Society of Plant Biologists (2016-present)

    Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2012-present). Elected Member-at-Large for AAAS National Section on Agriculture, Food, and Renewable Resources (2018 – 2022); President’s Circle (2017)

    Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists (2012-present)

    Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Distinguished Mentor Award (2007-2009)

    Google Scholar Citation Classics (1,000 citations or more):

    Koch KE, Carbohydrate modulated gene expression. 1996. Ann Rev Plant Biol. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev.arplant.47.1.509

    Koch KE, Sucrose metabolism: regulatory mechanisms and pivotal roles in sugar sensing and plant development. 2004. Cur Op Plant Biol. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369526604000469

    Other Honors and Service

    Maize Genetics Cooperation Executive Committee. Elected to MGEC (2016-2020), Chair, 2017-2018

    American Society of Plant Biologists

    Science policy committee for legislative interface (2019 – 2020)

    Elected to Executive Committee 2006-2009, 2012-2016.

    National Secretary and Program Chair (2013-2015) Secretary Elect (2012), Immediate Past Secretary (2016), and Elected Member at Large (2006-2009)

    Steering Committee, Maize Genetics Cooperation (2008-2011)

    Continuing Service to National Funding Agencies

    Panel service: 29 panels for NSF, USDA-NRI, USDA-DOE, and inter-agency (1988-present)

    Panel Manager: 3 panels for USDA-NRI and USDA-ARS (2005 to present)

    National Program Review Committees for USDA-ARS and DOE (4 site visits, 2004-present)

    National Program Restructuring for USDA-ARS: Office of the Deputy Secretary (2006)

    External Evaluator (Granting agencies of Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Switzerland, and UK)

    Gordon Conference Central Committee – Conference Evaluator

  • Program Personnel

    Jonathan "Jono" Saunders, Biological Scientist

    Jiahn-Chou Guan, Associate Research Professor

    Maria Angélica Sanclemente, Ph.D. Student

    Peng Liu, Ph.D. Student

    Scott Fleishman, Undergraduate Intern

    Sarah E. Joe, Undergraduate Intern

    Lauren D. Bradley, Undergraduate Intern

Selected Publications

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