Assistant Professor

Dr. Matthew Rubin joined the Department of Biology in August of 2024. Prior to joining the department, he was at the Danforth Center (St. Louis, MO) and Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY). He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and Ph.D. from the University of Wyoming. He is a quantitative geneticist with a focus on understanding how plants perceive and respond to the environment and the processes that shape plant responses to natural and artificial selection in natural and breeding populations. Outside of the Lab, Matthew enjoys traveling and exploring nature! 

Postdoctoral Researcher

Zachary Harris is a computational biologist and data scientist working at the intersection of high-throughput phenotyping, genomics, and plant breeding. His current research uses statistical modeling and machine learning to accelerate the development of novel perennial crops. A former grape scientist, he now applies tools like phenomic prediction to integrate data from chemical composition, hyperspectral reflectance, and other traits, advancing both fundamental plant science and applied breeding for more sustainable agriculture. Outside the lab, he enjoys reading, doom-listening to news podcasts, and other indoor pursuits.

Masters Student

Anthony Landrigan was born and raised in Park Hills, Missouri before moving to St. Charles in 2021 to work towards a B.A. in biology at Lindenwood University, which he would eventually earn in the spring of 2025. Following that, he applied to and got accepted into the master's biology program at SLU. He began his M.S. in biology in the summer of 2025 working in Dr. Matthew Rubin's lab, where he assisted in his research on Brassica. He in in the early stages of his own work and research for his thesis, where he is analyzing multispectral images of Silphium taken with a videometer to answer questions regarding germination.

Student Researcher

Liam Keaggy is a recent graduate of Washington University in St Louis, graduating with honors and a degree in biology with a focus on ecology. Liam has been involved with the FFAR project for over 4 years, and wrote his senior thesis in collaboration with the Rubin lab. In his free time he enjoys rock climbing, collecting CDs, and riding his bike.

Undergraduate Researcher

Shikara Patel is a undergraduate at Saint Louis University majoring in Biology and minoring in healthcare ethics. Since beginning her work with Dr. Rubin in 2022, she has been working with the species Mimulus guttatus to understand genetic pathways behind cold responses. In her free time, Shikara enjoys reading, drawing, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

Undergraduate Researcher

Johanna Sanchez-Lopez is an uprising senior at Saint Louis University majoring in biology with a concentration in plant science. She has been working in the Rubin lab for quite some time and contributing to the FFAR project. She is also an intern at the Missouri Botanical Garden, where she works with plant research and collections. She recently presented her research project about Silphium integrifolium at the Biology Department Symposium. In her free time, she enjoys growing strawberries, painting, and thrifting.

Undergraduate Researcher

Amin Motlaq is a sophomore and psychology major at Saint Louis University. He is interested in all types of biology, psychology, sociology, and writing scientific papers. Amin is focused on finding solutions to problems that plague our earth. The state of plant agriculture in many parts of the world is dire, and he wants to find a way to make a plant that will help feed more people easily. By analyzing the brassica rapa oil plants, he hopes the lab will identify the factors that result in the healthiest and strongest plants that will yield the greatest outcome for humans.

Undergraduate Researcher

Chris Jefferson is a rising sophomore majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track. He will begin work in the Rubin Lab in the fall of the 2025 school year. His specific interest in plant life and the plant genome lead him to pursue a plant research opportunity. He is also a biology learning assistant and a practice player for the SLU women’s basketball team. Outside of school, he enjoys working out, reading, and cooking.