Skip to main content

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

Please visit: