Kirk Amundson

@kirkamundson.bsky.social

USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Fellow @UMass Plant Genome Evolution | Grasses

Our work on Naegleria Myosin 2 is out! Naegleria encodes 3 Myo2s which contract its actin network—the first evidence of contractile Myo2 outside of Amorphea. Myo2 is actually widespread in Naegleria's relatives and correlates with fast cell crawling. Read more: www.cell.com/current-biol...

Myosin 2 drives actin contractility in fast-crawling species outside of the amorphean lineage

Myosin 2-dependent actin contractility—the force that powers cell division and migration in animals, fungi, and other Amorphea—had been previously unknown outside this single eukaryotic group. Guest e...

cell.com

Finally out! We measured mutations in tetraploid potato. Highlights: - higher mutation rates in L1 than L2 - even higher rates and a distinct oxidative stress signature outside of meristems - lower mutation rates in genes everywhere we looked More 👇 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2514507122

PNAS

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...

nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com

Our lab’s variegated peperomia makes green flecks on leaves, but only on the abaxial side. It’s the typical sandwich: L1 green-L2 yellow-L3 green, so guessing flecks are L1-derived cells dividing periclinally into L2. But how only on the abaxial side? Something to do with the super thick epidermis?

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Come work with us!! We have a great group of plant biologists already, and there are FOUR searches for new plant biologists of different flavours across campus. We also have an outstanding group of animal physiologists (including @mstager.bsky.social ). Please apply!!

Maria Stager@mstager.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Just a few days left to apply to our TT position in Plant Physiology in the Dept. of Biology @UMassAmherst! Join a great group of plant scientists (and physiologists 😉) AND fall in love with small town New England! Please repost. careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-u...

Of note: "Of particular importance, the successful candidate will have a demonstrated understanding of the strength that is brought to science through diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility."