Jan Leach
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Associate Dean for Research, CAS
University Distinguished Professor,
Office: C203 Plant Sciences
Office Phone: 970.491.2924
Lab: E106 Plant Sciences
Lab Phone: 970.491.6997
Email: jan.leach@colostate.edu
Website: Leach Lab
Associate Dean for Research, College of Agricultural Sciences
In her role as Associate Dean for Research, Leach provides strategic vision for research within the College, and works with faculty to build collaborative research teams.
University Distinguished Professor, Agricultural Biology
Research in the Leach group focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant disease susceptibility and resistance, with a particular interest in quantitative traits for susceptibility and resistance. Leach also studies how climate changes impact plant disease caused by microbial pathogens, primarily studying rice and interactions with bacterial pathogens, and how the Russian wheat aphid microbiome influences the insects’ aggressiveness to plants. Her group also develops molecular diagnostics for microbial pathogens.
Graduate Students Advised
- Emily Luna – PhD in Agricultural Biology
- Jacob Sharkey – MS in Agricultural Biology
- Jennifer Shipp – MS in Agricultural Biology