What We Study
- Phenotyping at scale – pairing field robotics, imaging, and classical agronomy to monitor trait development across environments.
- Genomics that matters – linking DNA variation to stress resilience, yield components, and gene regulation in maize and sorghum.
- Collaborative solutions – working with breeders, engineers, and data scientists to turn discoveries into deployable tools.
Recent Highlights
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Polish Society keynote on form and function
James Schnable presented “What We Can See, We Can Change: Linking Plant Form to Gene Function” at the XII Conference of the Polish Society of Experimental Plant Biology in Warsaw. -
International Meeting on Plant Breeding talk
James Schnable delivered “From Breeder’s Eye to Silicon Eyes: New Tools for an Old Challenge” at the 9th International Meeting on Plant Breeding in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. -
Lab gears up for Fall 2025
The Schnable Lab is excited to start the fall semester with new members and fresh research directions.
Training Across Disciplines
Each lab member gains experience coding, building field equipment, running molecular assays, and communicating results to scientific and public audiences. The cross-training keeps our science grounded in real-world challenges and ensures discoveries translate beyond the lab.
Join the Lab
We are always interested in motivated scientists:
- Undergraduates can contribute to funded projects or propose UCARE research within our focus areas.
- Graduate students and postdocs should reach out with a CV and a short statement of interests; opportunities shift with grant availability.
Check current openings on the Join the Lab page, or email Dr. Schnable to start a conversation.
Looking for the Iowa State group led by Dr. Patrick Schnable? Visit their site.