LSU’s College of Science has welcomed three new assistant professors this semester: Carl Procko, Ping Wang, and Keegan Kirk. Their research spans plant adaptations, growth mechanisms, and applied mathematics.
Carl Procko focuses on how plants adapt to their environments, particularly interested in unique species like carnivorous and parasitic plants. He studies plant glands that secrete various substances, such as flavors in mint and psychoactive compounds in cannabis. He aims to understand Louisiana’s native flora, including mangroves and sun dew plants, with hopes of engineering plant glands to create novel functions.
Ping Wang specializes in how plants respond to environmental stress. She examines signaling pathways involved in processes like autophagy and stress granules, aiming to enhance crop resilience under challenging conditions. In addition to her research, Wang teaches introductory biology, expressing her enjoyment in engaging with students despite initial challenges.
Keegan Kirk is an applied mathematician dealing with complex equations requiring computational solutions. His work involves developing methods to approximate these solutions and ensure their accuracy. Kirk highlights the university’s focus on “digital twins,” which are computational models of physical systems, and he appreciates LSU’s ambition for interdisciplinary research.
Both Wang and Kirk bring international perspectives to LSU, having faced initial challenges related to language and culture. Kirk moved from Canada on a J-1 visa for his post-doctorate and is now supported by an H-1B visa. They both express optimism about the collaborative potential within the department and across the university.
