Rate My Professor Mike Kolomiets

Michael V. Kolomiets is a Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. He earned his Ph.D. in Horticulture from Iowa State University in 1998. The focus of research in his laboratory centers on genes and metabolites involved in lipid-based biochemical and signal transduction pathways, elucidating their roles in plant development, survival against pathogens, insects, and abiotic stresses, with particular emphasis on maize. Key areas include oxylipin signaling, jasmonate biosynthesis, perception, and interactions with other hormones like salicylic acid during defense responses.

Kolomiets has an extensive publication record, including recent works such as "A non-JA producing oxophytodienoate reductase functions in salicylic acid-mediated antagonism with jasmonic acid during pathogen attack" (Molecular Plant Pathology, 2023), "Non-invasive identification of combined salinity stress and stalk rot disease caused by Colletotrichum graminicola in maize using Raman spectroscopy" (Scientific Reports, 2023), "Identification of naturally occurring atoxigenic strains of Fusarium verticillioides and their potential as biocontrol agents of mycotoxins and ear rot pathogens of maize" (2023), "Overexpression of maize ZmLOX6 in Arabidopsis thaliana enhances damage-induced pentyl leaf volatile emissions that affect plant growth and interaction with aphids" (Journal of Experimental Botany, 2023), and earlier influential chapter "Jasmonate Biosynthesis, Perception and Function in Plant Development and Stress Responses" (2013). As Principal Investigator, he has led several National Science Foundation grants, including "Lipid-Mediated Signaling Govern Maize Resistance To Below- and Above-Ground Insect Herbivores" (2020-2023), "Functions of maize oxidized lipids in abiotic and biotic stress" (2019-2024), "Systemic oxylipin signals (SOS) for herbivory-induced defense" (2017-2020), "Mechanisms of Lipid-mediated Signaling in Drought Tolerance in Maize" (2015-2019), and "Collaborative Research: Signal Perception and Cellular Mechanisms Governing Oxylipin Mediated Maize-Fungal Interactions" (2011-2015). He has also served as co-Principal Investigator on projects examining signals and metabolites in maize symbiosis with beneficial root-colonizing fungi. These efforts underscore his impact on advancing plant stress biology and potential agricultural applications for crop protection.