By creating the chemical energy essential for life from sunlight, and converting that energy into grasslands, swamps, forests and fields, plants constitute the foundation of our living environment.  At the Department of Plant Biology, we investigate fundamental mechanisms of plant development and function by applying advanced methods in genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, imaging and bioinformatics.  The collaborative atmosphere and location at Stanford University with its dynamic scientific community offers researchers and students a special environment to engage in the discoveries that will help shape our future life on this green planet.