Boston, MA — Northeastern University’s Institute for Plant-Human Interface (IPHI) announces the appointment of two new assistant professors, Dr. Adam Caparco and Dr. Lital Davidi, who will join the institute beginning Fall 2024. These strategic hires, supported by significant investments from the Provost’s Office, College of Science, and College of Engineering, strengthen Northeastern’s commitment to advancing sustainable solutions at the intersection of plant science and human health and sustainability.
Dr. Caparco, who joins with a primary appointment (75%) in Chemical Engineering and a secondary appointment (25%) in Chemistry and Chemical Biology, brings expertise in enzyme engineering and agricultural biotechnology. A graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned his PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering focusing on enzyme immobilization and biocatalysis under Drs. Julie Champion and Andreas Bommarius, his innovative research program aims to develop sustainable solutions for agriculture through engineering plants for enhanced nutrient uptake and designing novel systems for phosphorus recovery from agricultural waste. Prior to joining Northeastern, Dr. Caparco completed his postdoctoral training at UC San Diego, where he developed groundbreaking approaches for agricultural drug delivery using viral nanoparticles.
Dr. Davidi, appointed primarily (75%) in Biology with a secondary appointment (25%) in Bioengineering, is an expert in photosynthetic organisms and iron homeostasis. She received her PhD in Biological Chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science, where she studied lipid and β-carotene accumulation in microalgae under Prof. Uri Pick. Her research program will focus on understanding and enhancing iron acquisition in plants, with significant implications for global food security and agricultural sustainability. She brings extensive experience from her postdoctoral work at UCLA, where she made fundamental discoveries about iron metabolism in extremophilic algae.
“These appointments represent a major step forward for IPHI and Northeastern’s commitment to addressing global challenges in agriculture and sustainability,” said Dr. Jing-Ke Weng, Director of IPHI. “Their complementary expertise in agricultural biotechnology and plant nutrition will create unprecedented opportunities for innovative research at the plant-human interface.”
The researchers’ complementary approaches – Dr. Caparco’s focus on agricultural biotechnology and Dr. Davidi’s expertise in plant nutrient acquisition – will create new opportunities for collaborative research within IPHI. Their work aligns perfectly with Northeastern’s emphasis on translational research that addresses real-world challenges in food security and sustainable agriculture.
Both faculty members will establish research programs that leverage Northeastern’s state-of-the-art facilities and interdisciplinary environment. Their research will contribute to IPHI’s mission by developing new technologies for improved crop nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection.
The addition of these faculty members, supported by substantial startup packages and laboratory space, demonstrates Northeastern’s continued investment in expanding its research capabilities in agricultural biotechnology and plant sciences. Their appointments are expected to catalyze new collaborations across departments and colleges while strengthening Northeastern’s position as a leader in basic and translational plant research.
News source: IPHI