Below are the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions. Have a question that isn’t listed? Feel free to ask us at thecalderonlab-at-gmail-dot-com!
Q: What kind of experiments do you use in the Calderon Lab?
A: We use techniques spanning modern molecular biology (PCR, cloning, qPCR), cell biology (fluorescence and confocal microscopy), biochemistry (immunoblots, co-immunoprecipitation, in vitro protein assays) and plant physiology (generation of transgenic/mutant plants, measurements of plant growth and development). We’re open to using any tools that help us better understand how plants regulate greening!
Q: Can I apply directly to Dr. Calderon to do a Ph.D?
A: No, you’ll need to apply to the Genome, Cell and Developmental Biology (GCDB) Graduate Program or the Biochemistry Graduate Program at IU. You can find all the details on the “Join us!” tab.
Q: What is the mentorship style in the Calderon Lab?
A: In the Calderon Lab, we believe that young researchers are a lot like young seedlings: they may be pretty dependent on outside resources at first (lipids from seeds or guidance from supervisors) but we hope and expect that they will become more and more independent as they “see the light”. Robert’s job as a supervisor is to listen well and provide direction and honest feedback during your time in the group, ensuring you have everything you need to achieve your personal and professional goals. In return, you’ll need to work hard, communicate clearly and provide feedback to him so that our relationship improves along the way. In the beginning, you can expect Robert to schedule regular meetings with you, but over time you will be the one driving the project and determining how frequently we meet. We hope that by the time you leave the group you will be like a green seedling: independent, well-equipped for your next challenge and ready to bloom. Important note: this is just an analogy; it is unlikely that we’ll be able to help you become photosynthetic.
Q: Which plants do you study in the Calderon Lab?
A: We mostly use the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis). It’s a close relative of mustard and of many of your favorite vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, bok choy and arugula, for example). Arabidopsis is the “lab rat” of the plant biology world because it is small, has a rapid life cycle, produces lots of seeds and has a wealth of genetic tools available.
Here’s a picture of some flowering Arabidopsis →
We also use Nicotiana benthamiana, a close relative of tobacco. We can easily express plant genes in the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana and observe the behavior of the proteins these genes encode. Specifically, we use this system to observe the localization of proteins via confocal microscopy and also test whether or not two plant proteins interact with each other.
← Here’s a picture of a leafy Nicotiana benthamiana
Soon we’re hoping to work with more evolutionary diverse green organisms including the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (marked in red on the phylogenetic tree below, where Mya = millions of years ago). Working with diverse sets of model organisms helps us understand the molecular tools that different groups of plants have evolved over the course of their evolutionary history.
