Katrien M. Devos
Distinguished Research Professor | Grass Genetics; Comparative Genomics; Trait Analyses; Genome Evolution; Millets; Turfgrasses
Areas of expertise
About
My lab conducts basic and applied research in the area of grass genetics and comparative genome analysis. The target crops are wheat, millet and switchgrass. We study the structural organization of grass genomes and genome relationships in closely and more distantly related species to get insight into the evolutionary mechanisms that lead to changes in genome organization. We also study the genetic basis of important agronomic traits. Collaborative research with developing countries constitutes an important part of my research program. We work together with breeders in India and Africa to improve locally adapted millet varieties for selected traits using marker-assisted breeding
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Plant Genetics
Rijksuniversiteit Te Gent (State University of Gent), Belgium (1992)
Bachelor of Science, Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Rijksuniversiteit Te Gent (State University of Gent), Belgium (1984)
Awards and Honors
- Student Career Success Influencer Award 2024 (2024)
- Distinguished Research Professor (2020)
- Distinguished Visiting Scientist Fellowship (2018)
- UGA Creative Research Medal (2017)
- D.W. Brooks Faculty Award for Excellence in Research (2017)
- AAAS Fellow (2016)
- CSSA Fellow (2002)
Courses
- GRSC 8550: Responsible Conduct of Research (Fall 2025)
- GRSC 7001: GradFIRST: First-year Research and Scholarship Training Seminar (Fall 2025)
- PBGG 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2025)
- CRSS 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2025)
- GENE 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2025)
- GENE 4970R: Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research II (Fall 2025)
- PBIO 8200: Grant Writing with a Focus on Plants and Microbes (Spring 2026)
- GENE 9000: Doctoral Research (Spring 2026)
- CRSS 9000: Doctoral Research (Spring 2026)
- PBGG 8871: Genome Analysis and Comparative Genomics (Spring 2026)
- PBIO 8871: Genome Analysis and Comparative Genomics (Spring 2026)
- PBGG 9000: Doctoral Research (Spring 2026)
- HORT 8871: Genome Analysis and Comparative Genomics (Spring 2026)
- CRSS 8871: Genome Analysis and Comparative Genomics (Spring 2026)
- GENE 4980R: Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research III (Spring 2026)
- CRSS 9990: Supervised Teaching Practicum in Crop and Soil Sciences (Spring 2026)
- GENE 9000: Doctoral Research (Summer 2026)
- CRSS 9000: Doctoral Research (Summer 2026)
- PBGG 9000: Doctoral Research (Summer 2026)
- GENE 9300: Doctoral Dissertation (Fall 2026)
- GRSC 7001: GradFIRST: First-year Research and Scholarship Training Seminar (Fall 2026)
- PBGG 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2026)
- GENE 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2026)
- CRSS 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2026)
- GRSC 8550: Responsible Conduct of Research (Fall 2026)
Scholarly Works
- Widespread non-target-site resistance in Setaria viridis to four classes of herbicide, THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS, (2026).
- Identification of the gene affecting bristle length in pearl millet, (2025).
- How Magnaporthe oryzae loses its DNA, (2025).
- Genome evolution in California vernal pool grasses: insights from three species in subtribe Orcuttiinae, (2025).
- Two mutations in the same MYC-bHLH transcription factor cause segregation of purple coloration of stolons and seed heads in Zoysia japonica x Zoysia matrella F2 and F1 populations, HORTICULTURE RESEARCH, (2025).
Contact
Mailing Address
3111 Miller Plant Sciences
Dept of Crop & Soil Sciences
Athens, GA 30602
Shipping Address
3111 Miller Plant Sciences
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Athens, GA 30602
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