Biography

Mona Damaj is a Research Scientist and Sugarcane Biotechnology Program Manager at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center. She has strong research contributions and has been on the forefront of applied research in molecular genetics, functional genomics, biochemistry, microbiology and biotechnology for studying plant-microbe interactions, transcriptional regulation during embryogenesis and seed development, and plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. She is actively engaged in improving the agricultural and biotechnological value of major crops such as sugarcane, rice, and potato by developing new germplasm with improved tolerance to abiotic and abiotic stresses, biomass, fiber content, and value-added bioproducts, and in training technicians, and national and international students in plant biotechnology and molecular biology.

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Research Interest

Plant biotechnology, molecular genetics and functional genomics, including development of genomic tools such as regulated promoters and gene expression systems for enhancing expression of target agronomic genes, establishment of efficient transformation systems for crops, development of crops with improved tolerance to abiotic and abiotic stresses, biomass, fiber content and value-added proteins, and investigation of the cross-talk between hormonal, biotic and abiotic stress signaling pathways.