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Dr. David Haak

FACULTY AFFILIATE   |   Global Change Center

School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

Google Scholar  •  Dept Page

(540) 231-1186 •  dhaak@vt.edu

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Evolutionary ecological genomics forms the basis for David Haak’s research. Within this field, he is interested in identifying the genetic basis of plant adaptation to biotic stress (for example, pests) and abiotic stress (drought), with particular interest in understanding how plant defense traits are shaped by ecological and environmental conditions, pertinent in a changing climate.

To understand how biotic and abiotic conditions shape adaptive responses, he uses manipulative field and greenhouse studies, genetic and genomic approaches, and physiology and analytical chemistry techniques. Haak’s research is centered in wild crop relatives, providing key insights in ecological and evolutionary processes as well as resources for crop improvement.