Richard Twigg
My scientific background includes a mix of classical botany and developmental genetics. My love for plants was inspired by a fantastic mentor, Dr. William Niering, an untiring activist, pioneer of environmental education, and Connecticut College professor of 47 years. Likewise, I owe my keen interest in molecular biology to a few exceptional people at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Dr. Marja Timmermans, Dr. Dave Jackson, and the rest of the plant genetics folks in Delbruck revealed to me the joyful life of academic research.
The excellence and breadth of research at Duke University has created a rich environment for collaborative innovation. In the Benfey Lab, we use plant root development as a model to explore the nature of biological systems. In particular, we seek to understand the networks of molecular controls by which a genome has evolved to coordinate the development program and regulate the physiology of life. I am working on two collaborative projects, one pertains to gene regulation by small RNAs and their role in development, the other project involves engineering high-throughput confocal imaging tools and their application to systems biology research.
When I am not in the lab I also enjoy gardening, fixing things, swimming in the quarry with our dog Moby, and sailing in the Pacific Northwest with my lovely wife Kristin.
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