People

Patricia Lang she/her

Assistant Professor, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

plang [at] berkeley.edu

Patti wants to understand the molecular mechanisms of plant adaptation to climate change.

Plants! Books, languages, nature, writing, climbing. Did I mention plants?

Myeongjune Jeon he/him

Postdoc (since May 2024)

jeon.myeongjune [at] berkeley.edu

Myeongjune hopes to uncover the genetic basis behind climate change-driven evolution of plant reproductive traits.

Max Gray he/him

PhD Candidate (Grace Kase Fellow; since January 2025)

maxgray [at] berkeley.edu

Max wants to understand which genes are behind plant climate change responses, and if plant populations are evolving similarly across the globe.

Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, music, and hiking (slowly, to not miss any plants!).

Micaela Bowers she/her

Undergraduate (SPUR; since September 2025) | Rose Hills Summer Scholar (summer 2026)

micaelabowers [at] berkeley.edu

Micaela wants to understand how the plant adaptations of the past can inform approaches to the bioengineering projects of the future.

I enjoy performing arts, reading, basketball, spending time in nature, and trying lots of new foods!

Charlotte Zilai Chen she/her

Undergraduate (SPUR; since July 2026)

charlottezlc1107 [at] berkeley.edu

Charlotte hopes to contribute to uncovering how genetic variation influences flowering time in response to climate change.

I enjoy dancing, graphic design, video production, and going to concerts!

Selah Faith Dorn she/her

Undergraduate (since August 2026)

selahdorn [at] berkeley.edu

Selah wants to understand the genetic basis of how plants respond to environmental stressors such as climate change, and how altering these genes may allow for more resilient plant species in the future.

I spend my time outside of the lab reading, listening to music, and sailing!

Undergraduate? PhD student? Postdoc?

This could* be you! Email me if you are interested 🌱

We are excited to welcome rotation students this fall!

We currently do not have any funded technician or postdoc positions available. However, do get in touch if you are interested in preparing a fellowship application to join the lab.

* (in these suits, dressed up for ancient DNA work, in fact, quite literally – who can even tell?)

Previous Members

Megan McEntyre White she/her

Undergraduate (URAP; September 2025 - July 2026)

megan_white [at] berkeley.edu

Megan is studying how genetic variants contribute to differences in flowering time as a climate change adaptation.

I enjoy camping/hiking, playing with my three cats, and listening to music.

Hoyeon Kang she/her

Summer intern (June - August 2025)

doongji [at] berkeley.edu

Hoyeon aspires to develop crop varieties that can withstand environmental stresses such as drought, salinity, and heat caused by climate change, ultimately contributing to global food security and national agricultural resilience.

Outside the lab, I enjoy playing with my cat Nyangkong, and wandering through big wild landscapes - always keeping an eye out for plants growing where I least expect them.