About Us
We are a research group in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota led by Associate Professor Candy Hirsch. The research in the Hirsch lab in centered on translational genomics in maize. Our research involves the integration of big data including high throughput genome and transcriptome sequencing, high throughput phenotyping, and extensive environmental measurements with the end goal of improving corn as a crop plant. We have projects in the lab examining the maize pan genome including dissecting natural mechanisms that create genome content variation and the impacts on phenotypic variation. We are also developing foundational genetic platforms for improving food grade corn in collaboration with PepsiCo. We also have a number of projects centered on understanding the interaction of genotype and environment and the impacts on plant performance. For more information on current research projects in the Hirsch lab please see our research projects page.
