I am primarily a plant molecular biologist and an educator. My research has two main directions. The first has identified how the flax genome responds to environmental stress by making substantial, specific, but limited changes to the genome. The second is an international project to domesticate a wild legume as a new crop for resource poor farmers in arid regions of Africa. AS an education innovator, I developed and direct the MS in Biotechnology Entrepreneurship Program, whose students have been responsible for generating significant resources for the region.