Alexis Feist

Alexis Feist and her dog Piper
Researcher II - Steffenson Lab
she/her/hers
201 Christenson Lab

1991 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Biography

I graduated with a degree in animal science and a minor in agronomy and have been working with plants and animals in an educational setting since 2012 when I began working as a youth volunteer for the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Since then, I have developed an interest in plant pathology and research. I'll mostly be working with rust species, most notably stem rust of wheat, a very successful fungal pest. I'll be using effector biology and genomics to understand the virulence and avirulence of rust fungi to breed cereal crops that are more resistant to infection. During my free time, I adore hiking with my husband and cattle dog mix, jigsaw puzzles, and gardening.