Distinguished Professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology University of California at Los Angeles, USA Expertise: uses elemental and protein mass spectrometry in combination with live cell imaging of metal sensors and classical genetics to discover and dissect the biochemistry of the metal storing compartment. Research interests: 1) Genomics of algae, 2) Mineral metabolism in algae and plants, 3) Impact of mineral deficiency on photosynthesis, 4) Metabolism of trace elements, 5) Regulation of accumulation of biofuel precursors in algae Publications:  Using YFP as a Reporter of Gene Expression in the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Blaby-Haas CE, Page MD, Merchant SS. Methods Mol Biol. 2018;1755:135-148.  The Plant Cell Welcomes Assistant Features Editors. Eckardt NA, Williams M, Merchant SS. Plant Cell. 2018 Jan;30(1):1-2. doi: 10.1105/tpc.18.00048. Epub 2018 Jan 19.  High-throughput sequencing of the chloroplast and mitochondrion of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to generate improved de novo assemblies, analyze expression patterns and transcript speciation, and evaluate diversity among laboratory strains and wild isolates. Gallaher SD, Fitz-Gibbon ST, Strenkert D, Purvine SO, Pellegrini M, Merchant SS. Plant J. 2018 Feb;93(3):545-565. doi: 10.1111/tpj.13788. Epub 2018 Jan 7.  Regulating cellular trace metal economy in algae. Blaby-Haas CE, Merchant SS. Curr Opin Plant Biol. 2017 Oct;39:88-96. doi: 10.1016/j.pbi.2017.06.005. Epub 2017 Jun 30.