PLANT BIOLOGY
•Plant Molecular Biology •Small RNA-Mediated Processes in Plants •Plant Ecology and Evolution • Fire Ecology •Plant Molecular Biology •Plant Molecular Genetics •Plant Biotechnology •Soil Microbial Processes •Plant Physiology •Chihuahuan Desert •Phylogenomics •Plant Systematics •Bryophyte Evolution •Bioinformatics •Plant Population Genomics & Bioinformatics •Plant mating System Evolution •Soil/Sediment Microbial Ecology •Bioremediation •Restoration Ecology •Sustainability Science
RESEARCH
Plant biology research is incredibly diverse starting at soil and microbial interactions, to whole plant systems and genomes, to how the molecules and genes interact, to gene manipulation, to ecosystems and evolution. Our faculty's research issues address climate change, RNA mediated processes to understand genetic and biochemical processes, species relationships to reconstruct evolution genomics, transgenic crops that can combat abiotic stress, theoretical and mathematical models for water relations and ecology, the role of fire in arid lands, and how soil pollution affects environment and plants. This diverse area of plant biology has our graduate students working across Texas, the United States, chihuahua desert, Antarctica, Herbariums, as well as many international collaborations
TEACHING
TTU Biology offers introductory plant courses for both majors and non-majors along with an introductory course for ecology and environmental problems. As your interest develops in plants there are many course offerings that explore principles of plant biology, evolutionary advances in plants, plant molecular biology, as well as the opportunities to do undergraduate research with professors and graduate students. Some courses have field trips to explore the concepts being learned or use our plant biology resources like the herbarium and greenhouse. Our undergraduate advisors can help select the best plant courses for your interest or research experience.
THE BIOLOGY GREENHOUSE
Inside you can find a diverse array of plants from row crops to grasses, grapevines, strawberries, and more surprises like the sansevieria collection from Grover Murray. While the current greenhouse opened its doors in 1987, current renovations and new designs are underway to enhance our controlled environment research space. Many graduate student projects are found inside along with a few class labs that enhance our teaching endeavors. Come step inside to see what the plant kingdom will showcase as our new research space is being built, starting in 2024! Read more about the Biology Greenhouse.
E.L. REED HERBARIUM at TTU
The E.L. Reed Herbarium at Texas Tech University houses over 25,000 dried, pressed plant specimens with collections focused on West Texas, the Southern Plains, and Southwest United States. The Herbarium, originally founded in 1925, is now located on the 7th floor roof of the Biology building and is the official plant repository for the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Students working in the herbarium get experience with specimen curation, digitization, and plant systematics. Herbarium specimens are featured in teaching and research because they can function as a botanical time machine - providing insight on how the climate impacted plant genetics and physiology decades ago. Read more about the E.L. Reed Herbarium at TTU.
Department of Biological Sciences
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Address
Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Box 43131 Lubbock, TX 79409 -
Phone
806.742.2715 -
Email
biology@ttu.edu