Dr. Debmalya Chatterjee
Assistant Professor of biology
Address:
CIS 110E
Skidmore College
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
Office Hours: Tuesday 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM, Friday 11AM - noon, and by appointment
Telephone:
518-580-5072
E-mail: dchatterfee@skidmore.edu
EDUCATION:
- The Pennsylvania State University, Postdoctoral Research (2021-2024)
- The Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. Agronomy and Crop Science, 2021
- Punjab Agricultural University, India, M.Sc. Plant Breeding and Genetics, 2014
- Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, India, B.Sc. Agriculture, 2012
Research Interests:
My research is focused on the genetic and molecular regulation of seed development in agriculturally important plants such as corn (maize). I am interested in understanding the fundamental question of how complex patterns of gene expression are spatiotemporally regulated. My specific interest is to study the development of transfer cells in maize seeds. Transfer cells are specialized for active sugar transport into the storage cells of developing seeds. I am investigating the sugar, redox, and chromatin remodeling-mediated gene regulation required for proper transfer cell development. Understanding the development of these cells will allow targeted genetic manipulation to achieve early maturation, increase sugar and starch accumulation, and even desired nutrient composition.
I am also interested in the biotic stress (e.g. insect feeding) and abiotic stress (e.g. UV-B radiation) tolerance of maize. Intricate networks of signaling, gene expressions, and redox homeostasis enable plants to respond to stress. My research aims to decipher these networks and find ways to improve the stress tolerance of plants.