UMass Boston

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Adan Colon-Carmona

Department:
Biology
Title:
Professor
Location:
ISC Floor 04

Area of Expertise

Cell Cycle Control, Regulation of the Cytoskeleton, Growth Responses to Environmental Cues, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Bioremediation Using Plants, Science Education, Training and Mentoring of Students

Degrees

BA, Biology: University of California Santa Cruz

PhD, Biological Sciences: University of California Irvine

Postdoctoral training: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and University of California Davis

Professional Publications & Contributions

Additional Information

Research Interests

Adán Colón-Carmona’s research examines the contribution of cell division to the regulation of organ growth during plant development. Specifically, his lab studies how cell cycle checkpoints are influenced by both internal and external cues, including hormones and stress signals. The role of the motor proteins kinesins in regulating mitotic checkpoint is of specific interest. The Colón-Carmona Lab also studies how development in plants is altered in response to exposure to environmental pollutants such as the petroleum-based polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Using molecular genetic approaches, including bioinformatics and systems biology, the lab hopes to identify genes that could potentially be used to bioengineer plants to biodegrade and biodetect PAHs. This technology will be used in collaboration with a third project on root development and how the root microbiome is established both in normal and stressful growth conditions. Finally, he investigates how students learn and succeed in STEM fields, particularly those traditionally underrepresented in the sciences.

Professional Affiliations

  • American Society of Plant Biologists.
  • Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.
  • International Golden Key Society.
  • Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.

Patents

  • Doerner P, Lamb C and Colón-Carmona A. (2000) “Method of increasing growth and yields in plants”. Patent number 6166293.

Honors and Awards

  • 2017, Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute Fellow. Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.
  • 2017, Honored member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.
  • 2006, Honored member of International Golden Key Society.
  • 2003, 2005, Faculty Appreciation Award, recognized by UMass Boston students.
  • 1995-1998, NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
  • 1994, Steinhaus Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Science, UC Irvine.
  • 1989, National Chicano Council for Higher Education Graduate Award.
  • 1987-1989, NIH Minority Biomedical Research Support Fellow, UC Santa Cruz.