Event Date
Speaker: Luke Busta, Associate Professor
Speaker Bio: Dr. Busta is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) in the Swenson College of Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He completed his undergraduate studies at UMD, earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of British Columbia while working with Reinhard Jetter, then was a postdoctoral fellow at University of Nebraska mentored by Dr. Edgar B. Cahoon, sponsored by the National Science Foundation’s Plant Genome Research Program. He is fascinated by the unique chemistries that biological systems use to survive harsh environments. His research uses informatics and large language models to unite classical analytical chemistry with sequence data and phylogenetics. Through this combination of techniques, the Busta Lab aims to understand the molecular structures and biosynthesis of plant chemicals, polymers, and composites. Their goal is to use this approach to develop and apply new knowledge about chemical biology to sustaining and improving human life while protecting the planet.
Institution: Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Minnesota Duluth
Seminar Title: Leveraging community science and language models to study the chemistry of plants
About the Series
The Plant Biology Graduate Group Events series brings researchers and trainees together to explore advances across plant biology, from molecules to ecosystems. Hosted by the Plant Biology Graduate Group, these events foster interdisciplinary exchange, professional development, and community around plant-focused research.