Dr. Robert VanBuren
Assistant Professor
Michigan State University
1066 Bogue St, Room A328
East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: 517-312-7336
Email: bobvanburen@gmail.com
www.vanburenlab.org

EDUCATION
Rochester Institute of Tech
University of Illinois U C
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Biotechnology
Plant Biology
Plant Genomics

BS
PhD
Postdoc

2007-20102010-20142014-2016APPOINTMENTS
2017-present
2016-present
2014-2016

Asst Professor, Plant Resilience Institute, MSU, East Lansing, MI USA
Asst Professor, Dept of Horticulture, MSU, East Lansing, MI USA
NSF-NPGI Postdoctoral Fellowship, DDPSC, St Louis, MO USA

PUBLICATIONSPreprints:
1. Pardo J, Wai CM, Harman M, Nguyen A, Kremling KA, Romay C, Lepak N, Bauerle TL, Buckler ES,
Thompson AM, VanBuren R (2022) Cross-species predictive modeling reveals conserved
drought responses between maize and sorghum. bioRxiv, :2022.09.26.509573.
https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.09.26.509573
2. Palande S, Kaste JAM, Roberts MD, Abá KS, Claucherty C, Dacon J, Doko R, Jayakody TB, Jeffery
HR, Kelly N, Manousidaki A, Parks HM, Roggenkamp EM, Schumacher AM, Yang J, Percival S,
Pardo J, Husbands AY, Krishnan A, Montgomery BL, Munch E, Thompson AM, Rougon-Cardoso
A, Chitwood DH, VanBuren R* The topological shape of gene expression across the evolution of
flowering plants. 2022 bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.09.07.506951 *corresponding
author
3. Marks RA, Amézquita EJ, Percival S, Rougon-Cardoso A, Chibici-Revneanu C, Tebele SM, Farrant
JM, VanBuren R. Global disparities in plant science: a legacy of colonialism, patriarchy, andexclusion. 2022 bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.10.15.512190
4. VanBuren R*, Wai CM, Giarola V, Župunski M, Pardo J, Kalinowski M, Grossmann G, Bartels D(2022) The complex octoploid Craterostigma genome and tissue-specific mechanisms
underlying desiccation tolerance. 2022 bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.05.31.494158*corresponding author
5. Aubin BS, Wai CM, Raju SKK, Niederhuth CH, VanBuren R*. Regulatory dynamics distinguishingdesiccation tolerance strategies within resurrection grasses 2022 bioRxiv
https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.16.480747 *corresponding author

CV Robert VanBuren (updated Feb. 2021)
6. Bird KA, Pires JC, VanBuren R, Xiong Z, Edger PP. A genome in flux: homoeologous exchanges,
subgenome dominance, and gene dosage balance constraints in resynthesized allopolyploid
Brassica napus 2022 bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.16.468838
7. Lu YJ, Chen H, Corrion A, Li P, Buyuk I, Samaradivakara S, Wai CM, Sakamoto H, Santos P,
VanBuren R, Kim Y, Day B. NDR1 and the Arabidopsis Plasma Membrane ATPase AHA5 are
Required for Processes that Converge on Drought Tolerance and Immunity. 2021 bioRxiv
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.10.445978v1
8. Rowley ER, VanBuren R, Bryant DW, Priest HD, Mehlenbacher, Mockler TC. A Draft Genome
and High-Density Genetic Map of European Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.). 2018 bioRxiv
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/469015

Published manuscripts:
1.

Lipham Wilson M, VanBuren R*. Leveraging millets for developing climate resilient
agriculture. 2022 Current Opinion in Biotechnology.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102683 *corresponding author

2.

Yue J, VanBuren R*, Liu J, Fang J, Zhang X, Liao Z, Wai CM, Xu X, Chen S, Zhang S, Ma X, Ma
Y, Yu H, Lin J, Zhou P, Huang Y, Deng B, Deng F, Zhao X, Yan H, Fatima M, Zerpa-Catanho D,
Zhang X, Lin Z, Yang M, Chen NJ, Mora-Newcomer E, Quesada-Rojas P, Bogantes A, Jiménez
VM, Tang H, Zhang J, Wang M-L, Paull RE, Yu Q, Ming R. SunUp and Sunset genomes
revealed impact of particle bombardment mediated transformation and domestication
history in papaya. 2022 Nature genetics, 54: 715–724. *co-first author

3.

Marks RA, Mbobe M, Greyling M, Pretorius J, McLetchie DN, VanBuren R, Farrant JM.
Variability in Functional Traits along an Environmental Gradient in the South African
Resurrection Plant Myrothamnus flabellifolia. 2022 Plants 11(10): 1332.

4.

R Chávez Montes, Haber A, Pardo J, Powell RF, Divisetty U, Silva AT, Hernandez-Hernandez
T, Silveira V, Tang H, Lyons E, Herrera Estrella L, VanBuren R*, Oliver MJ*. A comparative
genomics examination of desiccation tolerance and sensitivity in two sister grass species.
2022 PNAS 119(5): e2118886119 *corresponding author

5.

Marks R, Hotaling S, Frandsen P, VanBuren R. Representation and participation across 20
years of plant genome sequencing. 2021 Nature plants 7(12): 1571-1578.

6.

Pardo J, VanBuren R*. Evolutionary innovations driving abiotic stress tolerance in C4 grasses
and cereals. 2021 The Plant Cell 33 (11), 3391-3401. *corresponding author

7.

Bird KA, Hardigan MA, Ragsdale AP, Knapp SJ, VanBuren R, Edger PP. Diversification, spread,and admixture of octoploid strawberry in the Western Hemisphere. 2021 American Journalof Botany 108 (11), 2269-2281

2

CV Robert VanBuren (updated Feb. 2021)
8.

Marks RA, Farrant JM, McLetchie DN, VanBuren R. Unexplored dimensions of variability invegetative desiccation tolerance. (2021) American Journal of Botany 108 (2), 346-358

9.

Hao Y, Mabry ME, Edger PP, Freeling M, Zheng C, Jin L, VanBuren R, Colle M, An H, Shawn
Abrahams R, Qi X, Barry K, Daum C, Shu S, Schmutz J, Sankoff D, Barker MS, Lyons E, Chris
Pires J, Conant GC. The Contributions of the Allopolyploid Parents of the Mesopolyploid
Brassiceae are Evolutionarily Distinct but Functionally Compatible. 2021 Genome Researchhttps://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.10.245258

10.

Lou P, Woody S, Greenham K, VanBuren R, Colle M, Edger PP, Sartor R, Zheng Y, Levendoski
N, Lim J, So C, Stoveken B, Woody T, Zhao J, Shen S, Amasino RM, Robertson McClung C.
Genetic and Genomic Resources to Study Natural Variation in Brassica rapa. 2020 Plant
Direct 4 (12): e00285

11.

Chitwood DH, Mullins J, Migicovsky Z, Frank M, VanBuren R, Londo. Vein-to-blade ratio is anallometric indicator of climate-induced changes in grapevine leaf size and shape. 2021
Applications in Plant Sciences 108(4): 571-579

12.

Bird KA, Niederhuth C, Ou S, Gehan M, Pires JC, Xiong Z, VanBuren R, Edger PP. Replaying
the evolutionary tape to investigate subgenome dominance in allopolyploid Brassica napus.
2021 New Phytologist 230(1): 354-371.

13.

Marks RA, Smith J, VanBuren R, McLetchie DN. Expression dynamics of dehydration
tolerance in the tropical plant Marchantia inflexa. 2021 The Plant Journal 105 (1): 209-222.

14.

Bryson AE, Brown MW, Mullins J, Dong W, et al., VanBuren R, Londo J, Chitwood DH. .
Composite modeling of leaf shape across shoots discriminates Vitis species better than
individual leaves. 2020 American Journal of Botany 8(12): e11404
Pardo J, Wai CM, Chay H, Madden CF, Hilhorst HWM, Farrant JM, VanBuren R* Intertwined
signatures of desiccation and drought tolerance in grasses. 2020. PNAS. 117(18): 1007910088 *corresponding author

15.

16.

VanBuren R*, Wai CM, Pardo J, Yocca AE, Wang X, Wang H, Edger PP, Bennetzen JL, Michael
T. Subgenome dynamics and stability in the allotetraploid grain crop tef. 2020 Nature
Communications 11(1): 1-11 *corresponding author

17.

Michael TP, VanBuren R. Building near-complete plant genomes. 2020 Current Opinion in
Plant Biology 54: 26-33

18.

Azodi CB, Pardo J, VanBuren R, de los Campos G, Shiu S-H. Transcriptome-based predictionof complex traits in maize. 2020 The Plant Cell 32: 139-151

19.

Baetsen-Young A, Wai CM, VanBuren R, Day B. Fusarium virguliforme Transcriptional
Plasticity Is Revealed by Host Colonization of Corn vs. Soybean. 2019 Plant Cell 31: 336–351

20.

Cerbin S, Wai CM, VanBuren R, Jiang N. GingerRoot: A Novel DNA Transposon Encoding
Integrase-Related Transposase in Plants and Animals. 2019 Genome Biology and Evolution,
11(11): 3181–3193

21.

Chen L-Y*, VanBuren R*, Paris M*, Zhou H, Zhang X, Wai CM, Yan H, Chen S, Alonge M,
Ramakrishnan S, et al. The bracteatus pineapple genome and domestication of clonallypropagated crops. 2019 Nature Genetics 51: 1549-1558 *co-first authors

3

CV Robert VanBuren (updated Feb. 2021)
22.

Wai CM, Weise SE, Ozersky P, Mockler TC, Michael TP, VanBuren R*. Time of day andnetwork reprogramming during drought induced CAM photosynthesis in Sedum album.
2019 PLoS Genetics 15: e1008209 *corresponding author

23.

Edger PP, Poorten TJ, VanBuren R, et al. Origin and evolution of the octoploid strawberry
genome. 2019 Nature Genetics 51: 541–547

24.

Dhar N, Short DPG, Mamo BE, Corrion AJ, Wai CM, Anchieta A, VanBuren R, Day B, Ajwa H,
Subbarao KV, et al. Arabidopsis defense mutant ndr1-1 displays accelerated development
and early flowering mediated by the hormone gibberellic acid. 2019 Plant Science 285: 200–
213

25.

VanBuren R*, Pardo J, Wai CM, Evans S, Bartels D. Massive tandem proliferation of ELIPs
supports convergent evolution of desiccation tolerance across land plants. 2019 Plant
Physiology 179: 1040–1049 *corresponding author

26.

Colle M, et al. VanBuren R, Jiang N, Edger PP. Subgenome dominance and evolution ofphytonutrient pathways in allopolyploid blueberry. 2019 GigaScience 8 (3): giz012

27.

Mower J, Ma PF, Grewe F, Taylor A, Michael TP, VanBuren R, Yin-Long Q. Lycophyte plastid
genomics: extreme variation in GC, gene and intron content and multiple inversions
between a direct and inverted orientation of the rRNA repeat. 2019 New Phytologist 22(2):1061-1075

28.

VanBuren R*, Wai CM, Keilwagen J, Pard J. A chromosome scale assembly of the model
desiccation tolerant grass Oropetium thomaeum. 2018 Plant Direct 2(11): e00096.
*corresponding author

29.

VanBuren R*, Wai CM, Pardo J, Giarola V, Ambrosini S, Somg X, Bartels D. Desiccation
tolerance evolved through gene duplication and network rewiring in Lindernia. 2018 Plant
Cell 30(12): 2943-2958 *corresponding author

30.

Zhang J… (114 coauthors), VanBuren R, Paterson AH, Nagai C, Ming R. Allele-defined
genome of the autopolyploid sugarcane Saccharum spontaneum L. 2018 Nature Genetics
50: 1565–1573.

31.

VanBuren R*, Wai CM, Colle M, Wang J, Sullivan S, Bushakra JM, Liachko I, Vining KJ, Dossett
M, Finn CE, Jibran R. A near complete, chromosome-scale assembly of the black raspberry(Rubus occidentalis) genome. 2018 GigaScience 7(8): giy094. *corresponding author

32.

Bushakra JM, Dossett M, Carter KA, Vining KJ, Lee JC, Bryant DW, VanBuren R, Lee J,
Mockler TC, Finn CE, Bassil NV. Characterization of aphid resistance loci in black raspberry(Rubus occidentalis L.). 2018 Molecular Breeding 38(7): 83.

33.

Bird KA, VanBuren R, Puzey JR, Edger PP. The causes and consequences of subgenome
dominance in hybrids and recent polyploids. 2018 New Phytologist 220 (1): 87-93

34.

Edger PP, McKain MR, Bird KA, VanBuren R. Subgenome assignment in allopolyploids:
challenges and future directions. 2018 Current Opinion in Plant Biology 42: 76-80

35.

Jibran R, Dzierzon H, Bassil N, Bushakra, JM, Edger P, Sullivan S, Finn CE, Dossett M, Vining,
KJ, VanBuren R, and Mockler TC. Chromosome-scale scaffolding of the black raspberry(Rubus occidentalis L.) genome based on chromatin interaction data. 2018 Horticulture
Research 5(1): 8

4

CV Robert VanBuren (updated Feb. 2021)
36.

VanBuren R*, Wai CM, Ou S, Pardo J, Bryant D, Jiang N, Mockler TC, Edger P, Michael T.
Extreme haplotype variation in the desiccation-tolerant clubmoss Selaginella lepidophylla.
2019 Nature Communications 9:13. *corresponding author

37.

VanBuren R*, Wai J, Zhang Q, Song X, Edger PP, Bryant D, Michael TP, Mockler TC, Bartels D:
Seed desiccation mechanisms co-opted for vegetative desiccation in the resurrection grass
Oropetium thomeaum. 2017 Plant, Cell & environment 40(10): 2292-2306 *corresponding
author38.

VanBuren R: Desiccation tolerance: Seedy origins of resurrection. 2017 Nature Plants
3:17046.

39.

Yang X, Hu R, … VanBuren R, (33 out of 50 authors) et al. The Kalanchoë genome provides
insights into convergent evolution and building blocks of crassulacean acid metabolism.
2018 Nature Communications 8: 1899

40.

Edger PP*, VanBuren R*, Colle M, Poorten TJ, Wai CM, Niederhuth CE, Alger EI, Ou S,
Acharya CB, Wang J: Single-molecule sequencing and optical mapping yields an improved
genome of woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) with chromosome-scale contiguity. 2017
GigaScience, 7 (2): gix124 *co-first author

41.

Wai CM*, VanBuren R*, Zhang J, Huang L, Miao W, Edger PP, Yim WC, Priest HD, Meyers BC,
Mockler T. Temporal and spatial transcriptomic and microRNA dynamics of CAM
photosynthesis in pineapple. 2017 The Plant Journal, 92(1): 19-30 *co-first author

42.

VanBuren R, Wai CM, Zhang J, Han J, Arro J, Lin Z, Liao Z, Yu Q, Wang M-L, Zee F. Extremely
low nucleotide diversity in the X-linked region of papaya caused by a strong selective sweep.
2016 Genome Biology 17:230

43.

Arro J, Park J-W, Wai CM, VanBuren R, Pan Y-B, Nagai C, Da Silva J, Ming R. Balancing
selection contributed to domestication of autopolyploid sugarcane (Saccharum officinarumL.). 2016 Euphytica 209: 477-493

44.

VanBuren R, Bryant D, Bushakra JM, Vining KJ, Edger PP, Rowley ER, Priest HD, Michael TP,
Lyons E, Filichkin SA. The genome of black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis). 2016 The Plant
Journal 87: 535-547

45.

VanBuren R, Bryant D, Edger PP, Tang H, Burgess D, Challabathula D, Spittle K, Hall R, Gu J,
Lyons E. Single-molecule sequencing of the desiccation-tolerant grass Oropetium
thomaeum. 2015 Nature 527: 508-511

46.

Ming R*, VanBuren R*, Wai CM, Tang H, Schatz MC, Bowers JE, Lyons E, Wang M-L, Chen J,
Biggers E. The pineapple genome and the evolution of CAM photosynthesis. 2015 Nature
Genetics 47:1435-1442 *co-first author

47.

Michael TP, VanBuren R*. Progress, challenges and the future of crop genomes. 2015
Current Opinion in Plant Biology 24: 71-81 *corresponding author

48.

VanBuren R, Zeng F, Chen C, Zhang J, Wai CM, Han J, Aryal R, Gschwend AR, Wang J, Na JK.
Origin and domestication of papaya Yh chromosome. 2015 Genome Research 25: 524-533

49.

Finn CE, Lee J, VanBuren R, Bassil NV, Bryant DW, Gilmore BS, Dossett M, Mockler TC, Vining
KJ, Bushakra JM. A genetic linkage map of black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) and themapping of Ag (4) conferring resistance to the aphid Amphorophora agathonica. 2015
Theoretical and Applied Genetics 128: 1631-1646

5

CV Robert VanBuren (updated Feb. 2021)
50.

Zhang Q, Liu C, Liu Y, VanBuren R, Yao X, Zhong C, Huang H. High-density interspecificgenetic maps of kiwifruit and the identification of sex-specific markers. 2015 DNA Research
22: 367-375

51.

Bushakra JM, Bryant DW, Dossett M, Vining KJ, VanBuren R, Gilmore BS, Lee J, Mockler TC,
Finn CE, Bassil NV. A genetic linkage map of black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) and themapping of Ag4 conferring resistance to the aphid Amphorophora agathonica. 2015
Theoretical and Applied Genetics 128: 1631-1646

52.

Zhang Q, Li L, VanBuren R, Liu Y, Yang M, Xu L, Bowers JE, Zhong C, Han Y, Li S. Optimizationof linkage mapping strategy and construction of a high-density American lotus linkage map.
2014 BMC genomics 15: 372

53.

Lum G, VanBuren R, Ming R, Min XJ. Secretome prediction and analysis in sacred lotus(Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.). 2013 Tropical plant biology 6: 131-137

54.

Ming R*, VanBuren R*, Liu Y, Yang M, Han Y, Li L-T, Zhang Q, Kim M-J, Schatz MC, Campbell
M. Genome of the long-living sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.). 2013 Genome
Biology 14: R41 *co-first author

55.

VanBuren R, Ming R. Dynamic transposable element accumulation in the nascent sex
chromosomes of papaya. 2013 Mobile genetic elements 3: 13710-13715

56.

VanBuren R, Ming R. Organelle DNA accumulation in the recently evolved papaya sex
chromosomes. 2013 Molecular genetics and genomics 288: 277-284

57.

VanBuren R, Walters B, Ming R, Min XJ. Analysis of expressed sequence tags and alternative
splicing genes in sacred lotus ('Nelumbo nucifera'Gaertn.). 2013 Plant Omics 6: 311

58.

Gschwend AR, Yu Q, Tong EJ, Zeng F, Han J, VanBuren R, Aryal R, Charlesworth D, Moore PH,
Paterson AH. Rapid divergence and expansion of the X chromosome in papaya. 2012
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109: 13716-13721

59.

Wang J, Na J-K, Yu Q, Gschwend AR, Han J, Zeng F, Aryal R, VanBuren R, Murray JE, Zhang
W. Sequencing papaya X and Yh chromosomes reveals molecular basis of incipient sex
chromosome evolution. 2012 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109: 1371013715

60.

Yang M, Han Y, VanBuren R, Ming R, Xu L, Han Y, Liu Y. Genetic linkage maps for Asian andAmerican lotus constructed using novel SSR markers derived from the genome of sequenced
cultivar. 2012 BMC genomics 13:653

61.

VanBuren R, Li J, Zee F, Zhu J, Liu C, Arumuganathan AK, Ming R. Longli is not a hybrid ofLongan and Lychee as revealed by genome size analysis and trichome morphology. 2011
Tropical Plant Biology 4:228-236

Book Chapters:
1.

Wai CM, VanBuren R. Circadian regulation of pineapple CAM photosynthesis. In Genetics
and Genomics of Pineapple. Springer, New York, NY; (2018) 247-258

2.

VanBuren R: Genomic Relationships, Diversity, and Domestication of Ananas Taxa. In
Genetics and Genomics of Pineapple. Springer, New York, NY; (2018) 259-272

6

CV Robert VanBuren (updated Feb. 2021)
3.

VanBuren R, et al. : Sequence and Analysis of the Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
Genome. In The Genomes of Rosaceous Berries and Their Wild Relatives. Springer, New York,NY; (2018) 185-197

4.

VanBuren R, Mockler TC: The Brachypodium distachyon Reference Genome. In Genetics andGenomics of Brachypodium. Springer, Cham; (2015) 55-70

5.

VanBuren R, Ming R: Sequencing and assembly of the transgenic papaya genome. In
Genetics and genomics of papaya. Springer, New York, NY; (2014) 187-203

6.

VanBuren R, Ming R: Genomics of Papaya Sex Chromosomes. In Genetics and Genomics of
Papaya. Springer, New York, NY; (2014): 309-326

FUNDING
External:
Funding Source: NSF-BII (DBI-2213983)
Project Title: “BII: Life without water: protecting macromolecules, cells, and organisms during
desiccation and rehydration across kingdoms of life”
Period: 08.2022-07.2027
Total costs: $ 12,500,000 (~$1,200,000 to VanBuren)
Role: co-PI
Funding Source: USDA-NIFA AFRI
Project Title: “Identifying the mechanisms controlling stress tolerance in the resilient grain and forage
crop teff (Eragrostis tef”
Period: 12.2021- 11.2024
Total costs: $ 634,382 (~$460,000 to VanBuren)
Role: PI
Funding Source: NSF-MCB Systems and Synthetic Biology (MCB-1817347)
Project Title: “The origin and genetic architecture of desiccation tolerance in C4 grasses”
Period: 8.2018- 7.2022
Total costs: $720,000 ($720,000 to VanBuren)
Role: PI
Funding Source: NIH-T32
Project Title: “Plant Biotechnology for Health and Sustainability”
Period: 07.2019- 06.2024
Total costs: $ 1,974,057
Role: Senior Personnel
Funding Source: NSF-NRT (NRT-1828149)
Project Title: “Intersecting computational and data science to address grand challenges in plant biology”
Period: 9.2018- 8.2023

7

CV Robert VanBuren (updated Feb. 2021)
Total costs: $ 2,999,967
Role: co-PI
Funding Source: NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2019 (NPGI- 2208915, Dr. Ian Gilman)
Project Title: “NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology: Exploring Cell-type Regulatory Dynamics of CAM
and C4 Photosynthesis in Portulaca”
Period: 03.2023-02.2026
Total costs: $216,000
Role: Sponsoring Scientist
Funding Source: NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2019 (NPGI-1906094, Dr. Rose Marks)
Project Title: “Leveraging Natural Variation to Understand Desiccation Tolerance in the Resurrection
Plant Myrothamnus flabellifolia”
Period: 05.2019-04.2022
Total costs: $216,000
Role: Sponsoring Scientist
Funding Source: USDA-FAS (FX17BF-10777R036)
Project Title: “Borlaug fellowship program Indonesia (ARSIATY) Biotechnology @ MSU”
Period: 10.01.2017- 9.30.2019
Total costs: $ 39,917
Role: PIPRESENTATIONS
Invited Seminars:
2021

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

2021

University of Nebraska

2018

University of Bonn. Bonn, Germany.

2018

RIKEN Yokohama. Yokohama Japan.

2018

RIKEN Wako. Wako, Japan.

2016

University of Illinois, Department of Crop Science, Champaign-Urbana IL USA.

Invited conference talks:
2022

Royal Society meeting on Anhydrobiosis, London UK

2021

International Conference on Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, Golden Sands, Bulgaria.

2019

VanBuren R, ‘Origins of desiccatiton tolerance in land plants’. Botany. July 27-31 2019, Tuscon
AZ USA.

8

CV Robert VanBuren (updated Feb. 2021)
2019

VanBuren R, ‘Comparative genomics of desiccation tolerance’. Plant Genome Evolution.
September 29- Oct 1 2019. Sitges, Spain.

2019

VanBuren R, ‘The Genetics of Drought and Desiccation Tolerance in C4 Grasses’. Great Lakes
Plant Breeding Initiative. June 26 2019. East Lansing, MI USA.

2019

VanBuren R, ‘Abiotic stress memory in plants’. Michigan State Genetics Mini-Symposium. May 7
2019. East Lansing, MI USA.

2018

VanBuren R, ‘Convergent evolution of desiccation tolerance across land plants’. Gordon
Research Conference Salt and Water Stress Tolerance in Plants. June 3-8 2018. Waterville Valley,
NH USA.

2018

VanBuren R, ‘Comparative genomics of CAM photosynthesis’. Biology of CAM Plants. April 9-13
2018. Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ USA.

2016

VanBuren R, ‘Drought Induced CAM Photosynthesis in Sedum album’. Plant and Animal Genome
Meeting. January 10-15 2016. San Diego, CA USA.

2015

VanBuren R, ‘De novo assembly of a complex panicoid grass genome using ultra-long PacBio
reads with P6/C4 chemistry’. January 13-17 2015. San Diego, CA USA.

2013

VanBuren R, ‘Recent origin and divergence of the two Y chromosomes in papaya. Plant andAnimal Genome Meeting’. January 12-16 2013. San Diego, CA USA.

2013

VanBuren R, ‘Sex Chromosome Evolution in Papaya’. Society for Molecular Biology and
Evolution. July 8-13 2013. Chicago, IL USA.

TEACHING
HRT 841
CMSE/HRT
HRT 812
HRT 892
HRT 892
HRT 892(Fall 2019-2022) Foundation in Plant Computational and Data Sciences. 3 credits. (Cotaught with Dr. Dan Chitwood; part of NSF-NRT program)(Spring 2019) Forum in Plant Computational and Data Science. 1 credit. (part of NSF-NRT
program)(Fall 2018, 2021) Graduate Level Research Methods in Horticulture. 2 credits. (2 lessons)(Fall 2021) Seminar in Orphan Crops 1 credit.
(Fall 2018) Seminar in Plant Resilience 1 credit.
(Fall 2017) Seminar in Emerging Frontiers of Plant Breeding and Genetics. 1 credit.

MENTORING AND ADVISING
Undergraduate students (MSU):
Olivia Magnotte
Annie Nguyen
Jack Sinnaeve(September 2022-present) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology(June 2022-present) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology(June 2022-August 2022) Sustainable and Organic Horticulture program9

CV Robert VanBuren (updated Feb. 2021)
Jack Day
Kirk Maibach
Cate Kirkwood
Sarah Pilarski
Sarah Tesfa
Bryce Davis
Paige Smith
Joseph Baczkowski
Nichelle Wooden(June 2022- August 2022) Environmental Science and Management(June 2021-September 2021) Mechanical Engineering(January 2020-present) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology(August 2020-May 2022) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology(May 2021-August 2021) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology(May 2021-August 2021) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology(May 2021-August 2021) Conservation Biology(May 2018-Jan 2020) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology(Fall 2017) Lyman Briggs, Molecular Science

Undergraduate students (non-MSU):
Michael Gasdick
Catherine Zhao
Max Harman
Mike Kalinowski
Serena Lotreck
Sterling Evans(Summer 2022) Plant genomics REU program at MSU. Senior Robert Morris
Univerrsity(Summer 2021) Plant genomics REU program at MSU. Senior Swarthmore
College(Summer 2021) Plant genomics REU program at MSU. PhD student, MSU(Summer 2019) Plant genomics REU program at MSU. Senior at Aquinas College(Summer 2018) Plant genomics REU program at MSU. PhD student MSU, Plant
Biology(Summer 2017) Plant genomics REU program at MSU. BS U. of Missouri.

MSU High School Honors Science Program:
Emily Dias
Hannah Chay

(Summer 2017) Undergraduate Harvard(Summer 2018) Undergraduate U Penn

Graduate Students (MSU):
Jeremy Pardo
Kevin Bird

Anna Haber(Fall 2017-Fall 2022) Plant Biology. PhD student. MSU Distinguished Fellowship.
(Fall 2017-Summer 2022) PhD Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior
Program. PhD student. NSF-GRFP Awardee, Fulbright Scholar and MSU
Distinguished Fellowship. This student was co-advised with Dr. Patrick Edger.
(Fall 2019-present) Horticulture, Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology,
PhD student.
(Fall 2019-present) Horticulture, PhD student. University Enrichment Fellowship.

Jenny Schuster(Fall 2021-present) Cell and Molecular Biology, PhD Student.

McKena Lipham

Graduate Students (visiting):
Natascha Hebler
Vanessa Reichel-Deland(Winter 2022) PhD student, University of duesseldorf. iGRAD-Plant
exchange program.
(Winter 2021) PhD student, University of duesseldorf. iGRAD-Plant
exchange program.

10

CV Robert VanBuren (updated Feb. 2021)
Antonio Rigueiro-Mesejo(Spring 2018) PhD student, University of duesseldorf. iGRAD-Plant
exchange program.

Postdoctoral Research Associates:
Dr. Ian Gilman
Dr. Rose Marks
Dr. Brian St. Aubin
Dr. Jennifer Wai(March 2023) NSF-PGRP postdoctoral fellow(June 2019-present) NSF-PGRP postdoctoral fellow(Jan 2020-July 2022). Research Scientist at Pairwise Plants(Oct. 2017-July 2020). Currently a Research Assistant Professor in Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology and Associate Director of the NUSeq Core at
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.

Research Associates (visiting):
Mirza Arsyad(Oct. 2017-Jan. 2018). USDA Borlaug fellow from Indonesia

Graduate Student Committee (MSU):
Elizabeth Alger
Alan Yocca
Ying-Chen Lin
Davis Mathieu
Levi Bauer
Charity Goecheritz
Ally Schumacher
Brandon Webster
Miles Roberts
Nick Johnson

PhD
PhD
PhD
PhD
PhD
PhD
PhD
PhD
PhD
PhD

Horticulture, Plant Breeding Genetics and Biotechnology
Plant Biology
Horticulture, Plant Breeding Genetics and Biotechnology
BioMolecular Science
BioMolecular Science
Horticulture, Plant Breeding Genetics and Biotechnology
Plant Biology
Plant Biology
Plant Biology
Plant, Soil, Microbial Sciences

Graduate Student Committee (External):
Natascha Hebler

2021-present. PhD student. Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich
Heine University Düsseldorf

Vanessa Reichel-Deland

2019-present. PhD student. Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich
Heine University Düsseldorf

Ian Gilman

2019-present. PhD student. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology, Yale Univertity
2020-present. PhD Student. Langbio Institute, Mexico

Omar Gonzalez

SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP
Ad-hoc manuscript reviewer (since August 2018):
Nature (3), Nature Genetics (6), Nature Food (1), Nature Plants (10), Nature Communications (12),Nature Reviews Genetics (1), PNAS (2), Science Advances (1), Communications Biology (2), Giga Science11

CV Robert VanBuren (updated Feb. 2021)(2), Physiologia Plantarum (1), The Plant Cell (6), Plant Physiology (4), Plant Journal (7), Plant Cell &Environment (3), Plant and Cell Physiology (1), Molecular Plant (2), Planta (11), PloS ONE (2), Peer J (4),Theoretical and Applied Genetics (1), BMC Genomics (2), BMC Plant Biology (2), Tropical Plant Biology(1). Frontiers in Plant Science (8), Genes (1), Agronomy (1), Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants(1), New Phytologist (3), Crop and Pasture Science, Hort Research (2), Plant Direct (2), Functional Plant
Biology (1), Cogent Food & Agriculture (1), Ecology and Evolution (1)Review and Editorial service:2016-present Peer J (handling editor)
2017-present Planta (editorial board member)
Ad-hoc reviewer for the following granting agencies:
2022
2021
2020
2020
2019
2018
2018
2017

National Science Foundation (USA)National Science Foundation (USA)National Science Foundation (USA)National Research Foundation (South Africa)
National Science Foundation (USA)National Science Foundation (USA)JGI-CSP (USA), panelist
ERA-NET Coordinating Action in Plant Sciences (ERA-CAPS; Europe)12