Jennifer A Kimball

Assistant Professor
She/Her/Hers
[email protected]
607-368-1749
406 Hayes Hall
Kimball Lab Homepage
Education

Ph.D.: North Carolina State University, 2015
 

Areas of Interest

Wild rice breeding, genetics, and conservation

Biography

Jenny Kimball received her bachelor's degree from Ithaca College in 2005 and then worked as a research assistant in Dr. Susan McCouch's white rice genetics program at Cornell University for several years. She received her Master's in Crop Science in 2011 and a PhD in Crop Science in 2015 at North Carolina State University under the leadership of Dr. Susana Milla-Lewis. She conducted a postdoc in Dr. Peter Balint-Kurti's lab in the Department of Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University before joining the Department here as an assistant professor in 2017.

Teaching

AGRO1101 - Biology of Plant Food Systems

Research

We are a breeding, genetics, and conservation research program in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota led by Dr. Jennifer Kimball. Our work centers on wild rice (Zizania palustris) as a cultivated crop as well as a natural resource in the state of Minnesota. 

Our research program focuses on 1) characterizing the genetic and physiological bases of quantitative traits in wild rice, 2) evaluating and monitoring the genetic diversity and changing environment of natural stands of wild rice in Minnesota to ensure their protection and preservation, and 3) investigating seed physiology characteristics including recalcitrance and dormancy. To find out more, click here. 

Our breeding program aims to improve the sustainability and growth of the Minnesota cultivated wild rice industry (http://www.mnwildrice.org/) and its growers through the development of new and improved varieties. We are currently focused on improving shattering tolerance as well as disease resistance.

Select Publications

https://wildricebreedingandgenetics.umn.edu/publications