Professor Spotlight: Dr. Barbara Zilinskas

My interviewee, Barbara Zilinskas, is a scientist in the Plant Biology and Pathology department at Rutgers University. I met her many years ago when I first declared my major in biotechnology. Although Zilinskas is responsible for creating the biotechnology program at the University, her research lies more in the following two fields:

Her first area of research focuses on a plant's response to environmental stress. A plant is said to be undergoing oxidative stress when its levels of ROS (reactive oxygen species) are particularly high. These ROS must be removed before they inflict damage on the cell. Zilinskas concerns herself with the process by which plants restore the damage from ROS.

Zilinskas also conducts research in turfgrass improvement by means of genetic modification. The bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens is used to introduce genes into the grass that would improve its survival, increasing disease resistance and stress tolerance. The goal of this research is to produce cultivars that can be used commercially. In addition to working with turfgrass, Zilinskas has also begun to examine switchgrass, which could serve as a biofuel crop.

In addition to her heavy involvement in research and curriculum development, Zilinskas has served as a valuable mentor for her students. Upon stopping by her office, students are almost always greeted with a fresh cup of coffee (or piece of seasonal chocolate if a holiday is approaching). I had the pleasure of taking one of Zilinskas' classes before she stopped teaching this year.