James (Jim) Shinkle, Ph.D.
- Professor , Biology
I am an old-school "black-box" physiologist. I am interested the photosensory mechanisms that regulate plant responses to ultraviolet radiation (UV). My students and I study responses to UV in laboratory and field conditions. We use analytical chemistry to characterize UV absorbing pigments, biophysical methods for assessing plant and cell structure and high-resolution measurements of growth, all coupled with precision manipulation of light environments to induce developmental changes. Our plants of choice include multiple genetic lines of Arabidopsis thaliana, cucumbers, Texas native grasses, all the way to vines and wines. One of the most satisfying aspects of my research career has been the number of times students have seen something that everyone else has missed (including me).