Michigan Technological University

Dr. Gailing works in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and is a member of the Biotech Research Center (37 faculty, 90 graduate students) which fosters interdisciplinary research at MTU. His primary interests are in ecological genetics and genomics, population genetics of forest trees, and the genetic mapping of characters involved in the adaptation to varying environmental conditions. He was involved in comparative genetic mapping projects in the Fagaceae using EST-SSR markers within the European genomic project EVOLTREE (Evolution of trees as drivers of terrestrial biodiversity). For this project, the OG lab is developing the genetic linkage maps in Gleditsia triacanthos (honeylocust) and is contributing to the development of the high density genetic linkage map in Quercus rubra (Northern red oak).

There will be one PhD student funded by the project (to be hired in fall 2011) working on genetic mapping in G. triacanthos and Q. rubra. Jessica Goodin, a MS student, is currently developing genetic markers for the identification of full-sib mapping pedigrees in honeylocust.