Protein Phosphatase 2Cs and Microtubule-Associated Stress Protein 1 Control Microtubule Stability, Plant Growth, and Drought Response

Author Profile

Govinal Badiger Bhaskara

Highlighted Paper: Bhaskara et al et al. (2016). Protein Phosphatase 2Cs and Microtubule-Associated Stress Protein 1 Control Microtubule Stability, Plant Growth, and Drought Response. Plant Cell. Advance Publication December 23, 2016; doi:10.1105/tpc.16.00847.

Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.

Education: PhD: Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Chung-Hsing University, Taiwan.

Non-scientific Interests: Trekking, Road-trips, watching movies, playing badminton and cricket.

My interest in plant biology came quite naturally to me because in my country native, India, environmental stresses occur in an unpredictable manner but the agricultural activity is intensive and dependent population is large. After M.S. study and several years of teaching experience in biology, I joined the Taiwan International Graduate Program in Academia Sinica. At Academia Sinica I could take advantage of outstanding facilities and resources for plant biology research. After lab rotations, I joined the laboratory of Paul Verslues, who was at that time a newly recruited faculty member of Academia Sinica. The Verslues laboratory focuses on drought-related sensing and signaling mechanisms. During my PhD, I analyzed stress function of Type 2C Protein Phosphatases (PP2Cs) (Bhaskara et al., 2012, Plant Physiology). During this time, we also began to look for other PP2Cs that affect drought resistance. We obtained some interesting initial results for three Clade E PP2Cs and after completing my PhD work I focused on these new PP2Cs for my postdoctoral research. During these studies in the Verslues laboratory I developed an enormous interest in plant stress biology. I am now excited to further pursue plant stress research as a postdoctoral research associate in the laboratory of Thomas Juenger at the University of Texas in Austin. In the Juenger lab, I will investigate the mechanisms of drought resistance in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), a major biofuel crop. My future goal is to apply my expertise to the development of improved crop varieties in India.