Dr. Tamara I. Miller

My work at UC Davis, in collaboration with the African Bean Consortium, seeks to identify the genetic diversity in Phaseolus vulgaris which is associated with resistance to the foliar disease, Angular Leaf Spot, caused by Pseudocercospora griseloa. After low soil fertility, Angular Leaf Spot is the leading cause of bean yield losses in tropical and sub-tropical growing regions of Eastern Africa. Generation of genetic markers through quantitative trait locus mapping and next-generation sequencing will facilitate breeding through resistance gene pyramiding in improved bean germplasm. 

Before graduate school I attended UC Berkeley and graduated with a B.S. in Genetics and Plant Biology. While there I led projects in the Lemaux/Buchanan labs to use genetic engineering and tissue culture of wheat and sorghum for development of lines with improved digestibility.

Ultimately, I'm interested in a career in plant breeding, especially towards development of stress tolerant biomass crops that could be used for manufacture of bioplastics and other building materials.