Brad Nelms, Principal Investigator

My research focuses on how multicellular development shapes the transmission of genetic variation — studying gene regulation in the plant haploid phase, the spread of new mutations, and transcription factor–mediated cell fate reprogramming. I moved from biomedical sciences into plant biology after graduate school, drawn by the opportunity to connect fundamental questions in genetics and evolution to crop improvement and food security.

Julian Somers, Graduate Student

My research focuses on the sporophyte-to-gametophyte transition — investigating how and when the pollen genome takes over from its diploid parent, and what chromatin-level mechanisms regulate this switch.

Justin Scherer, Postdoctoral Fellow

My dissertation research in the Nelms lab developed quantitative methods to track de novo transposon insertions across maize tissues, revealing how multicellular developmental structure shapes the spread of new mutations. This work led to the distributive germline model — the idea that plants maintain multiple independent germline lineages to limit mutation transmission. I completed my PhD in Spring 2026.

Taylor Scroggs, Graduate Student

My project focuses on systematically surveying transcription factor function in maize protoplasts, identifying candidates for cell fate reprogramming including regeneration and pollen development. I am interested in how high-throughput genomic approaches can expand what is possible in plant genetics and breeding.

Ahema Gaisie, Graduate Student

My project uses maize as a model to study how somatic mutations spread through the plant body and across generations. I am interested in how developmental organization shapes mutation fate — and what this tells us about the basic genetics of inheritance and the long-term resilience of plant genomes.

Dr. Sungjin Park, Staff Scientist

My current research focuses on understanding spatiotemporal changes in the genetic makeup of male reproductive cells in maize mostly using combined approaches of immunohistology and molecular biology as well as single-cell sequencing.