Alyssa Burkhardt
Alyssa Burkhardt
Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Student
BS, 2010, Butler University
Originally from central Indiana Alyssa spent 4 years at Butler University studying biology and chemistry and researching water lily phytochromes. Alyssa interned at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and worked on rootknot nematodes, which sparked her interest in plant interactions with pathogens. In 2010, Alyssa received a MSU Distinguished Fellowship and began her Ph.D. studies in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Alyssa rotated in the Day lab in the Fall of 2010 and after 2 more rotations, joined the lab in the Spring of 2011. She is currently working on the Pseudoperonospora cubensis-Cucumis sativus interaction, specifically looking at understanding mechanisms of resistance using cell biology, biochemistry, and transcriptomics. As part of this work, she is interested in understanding the molecular and cellular basis of host resistance, and using genomics, is probing pathogen virulence to understand the mechanisms(s) associated with early resistance responses during the interaction.
Publications
Awards & Honors
Honorable Mention, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

