Dr Juan C. Moreno is a plant molecular biologist whose previous work focused on the roles of carotenoids and apocarotenoids in plant growth, development, and stress responses. Dr Moreno earned a PhD in Molecular Plant Physiology from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in collaboration with the University of Potsdam, following graduate studies in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Chile. His research combines plant physiology, molecular biology, genetics, and metabolic engineering to improve crop productivity, photosynthetic efficiency, and resilience to environmental stress. Recently, he investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying plant signaling and identified receptors for growth-promoting apocarotenoids. At present, in the Wulff Lab, he will combine molecular biology techniques with bioinformatics data to uncover new disease-resistance genes and their mechanism in wheat and/or its relatives. He is also interested in using these new genes to enhance plant yield, contributing to food security and sustainable agriculture.