 | | Matt Bakker |
Matthew Bakker
Ph. D. Student
Department of Plant Pathology
University of Minnesota 495 Borlaug Hall
1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul, MN, 55108 Phone: 612-624-2253
Email: bakke183@umn.edu
Advisor: Dr. Linda Kinkel | 2006-Present | Ph. D. Student, Plant Pathology
University of Minnesota | | 2000-2004 | B.A., Environmental Studies, Biology
Dordt College |
Research Focus
I am interested in disease-suppressive soils and bacteria which antagonize plant pathogens. These have the potential for use as biocontrol agents, but are also important in the context of indigenous microbial communities. Particular conditions or management practices may encourage the development of microbial communities which naturally suppress plant disease. I am presently testing whether plant diversity is related to the pathogen-suppressive ability of the microbial community. I am also interested in specific communication between plants and bacteria. Long-lived plants interact closely with microbial communities over extended periods of time, and it is possible that such plants have acquired mechanisms for interfering with signaling or regulatory pathways for bacterial behaviors that could significantly impact plant fitness. I am presently looking for evidence that compounds derived from plant roots are capable of inducing or increasing antibiotic production in Streptomyces. If this is the case, it would demonstrate that plants are capable of manipulating bacteria for their own benefit; increased antibiotic production by Streptomyces could inhibit plant pathogens and improve plant fitness.
Professional Experience
2008
| Participant
"Microbial Genomics and Secondary Metabolites"
John Innes/Rudjer Boskovic Summer School in Applied Molecular Microbiology, Dubrovnik, Croatia
| 2006- Current
| Research Assistant
Department of Plant Pathology
University of Minnesota | | 2007 | Teaching Assistant
Pests and Crop Protection
University of Minnesota | | 2005-2006 | Lab Technician
BioWorks, Inc. | | 2003 | Research Experience for Undergraduates
Kansas State University | | 2003-2004 | Teaching Assistant
Botany and Microbiology
Dordt College | | 2003-2004 | Directed Undergraduate Research
Dordt College |
Awards and Honors
2008
| Stienstra and Meronuck Travel Award, University of Minnesota Department of Plant Pathology
| 2008
| Alexander Dubcek Award, University of Minnesota Office of International Programs
| | 2007-2010 | Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation | 2007
| Graduate Research Fellowship, The Land Institute | | 2006 | Graduate School Fellowship, University of Minnesota | | 2000-2004 | Distinguished Scholar Award, Dordt College | | 2000-2004 | Presidential Scholarship, Dordt College |
Presentations
| Bakker, M. G., and
L. L. Kinkel. “Microbial community management to control soilborne plant
diseases.” International Congress of Plant Pathology, Torino, Italy,
Aug 2008. Oral. | | Bakker, M. G.,
and L. L. Kinkel. “Plant effects on Streptomycete communities and secondary metabolism.” John Innes/Rudjer Boskovic Summer School in
Applied Molecular Microbiology, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Aug
2008. Poster. | | Bakker, M. G. “Plant
diversity effects on microbial diversity and pathogen suppression.” Annual
Meeting of the American Phytopathological Society, Minneapolis, Minnesota,
July 2008. Oral. | | Bakker, M. G. “Plant
diversity effects on microbial diversity and pathogen suppression.” The Land
Institute Graduate Fellows Workshop, Stafford, Kansas, June 2008. Oral. | | Bakker, M. G. “Quorum-quenching:
a new tool for biocontrol.” University
of Minnesota Plant Pathology Seminar
Series, St. Paul, Minnesota, Oct 2007. Oral. | Bakker, M. G. “Dependence
of perennial sorghum on associated arbuscular mycorrhizae.” Dordt College
Senior & Independent Research Symposium, Sioux Center, Iowa,
April 2004. Oral.
| | Bakker, M. G. and
K. A. Garrett. “Effects of burning and topography on infection by Fusarium in three prairie forbs.” Dordt College Senior & Independent Research Symposium, Sioux Center, Iowa,
Nov 2003. Oral.
| | Bakker, M. G. and
K. A. Garrett. “Effects of burning and topography on infection by Fusarium in three prairie forbs.” Kansas State University Research Experience for
Undergraduates Symposium, Manhattan, Kansas, Aug 2003. Oral.
|
Committees and Organizations
| 2007 | Chair, Plant Pathology Graduate Student Symposium Planning Committee, University of Minnesota | | 2006-Present | Board Member, Minnesota Mycological Society | | 2003-2004 | President, Shamar Earthkeeping Club, Dordt College |
Professional Organizations
| American Phytopathological Society | American Association for the Advancement of Science
| American Society for Microbiology
|
|
