Dr. Robert T. Mullen

Research in my laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the biogenesis of lipid droplet in plant cells and applying this knowledge towards bioengineering neutral lipid accumulation in the vegetative tissues (e.g., leaves and stems) of plants. Our research also takes advantage of a wide range of cellular and molecular technologies, as well as biochemical and microscopic approaches. 

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• Clews AC, Whitehead PS, Zhang L, Lü S, Shockey JM, Chapman KD, Dyer JM, Xu Y, Mullen RT. 2025. Identification and Characterization of Lipid Droplet-Associated Protein (LDAP) Isoforms from Tung Tree (Vernicia fordii). Plants 14:814.
• Doner NM, Clews AC, Esnay N, Whitehead PS, Wang Y, Romsdahl TB, Seay D, Niemeyer PW, Bonin M, Xu Y, Valerius O, Braus GH, Ischebeck T, Chapman KD, Dyer JM, Mullen RT. 2025. LIPID DROPLET PROTEIN OF SEEDS is involved in the control of lipid droplet size in Arabidopsis seeds and seedlings. Plant Cell. doi: 10.1093/plcell/koaf121. Online ahead of print.

Complete Publication Listing.

At the undergraduate level, I am involved in co-teaching Molecular Biology of the Cell (MCB*2050). I also participate in the graduate courses, MCB*6500 and MCB*7500.

Alyssa Clews (PhD) - Co-advised by Dr. Yang Xu