Job DescriptionPosition SummaryPlant defense is not a static biological process â“ it is influenced by dynamic factors such as ontogeny, morphogenesis, tissue type, and the circadian clock. Our research program uses various nonâ‘model species and a hypothesis driven, systems approach to examine how these factors impact plant defense. We explore how plants have navigated the fine line between growth and defense by evolving different strategies to optimize interactions with their microbial environments to maximize fitness. Our long-term goal is to investigate fundamental mechanisms of defense optimization, deepening our understanding of plantâ‘biotic interactions and providing direct, translatable implications for agricultural sustainability in a changing cli