Steve Rounsley

Associate Research Professor

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Research Interests

Dr. Rounsley is an associate research professor focusing on genome sequence analysis. His research areas include developing new tools for analyzing and improving genome assemblies and evaluation of new strategies and sequencing technologies for examining genome biology and evolution in numerous organisms.

One focus of the lab is the sequencing of the cassava genome, and translating the genome into useful tools for cassava breeders. Cassava is a root-crop grown extensively in Africa that is a major source of calories for hundreds of millions of people every day. In recent years, cassava crops have been increasingly damaged by a group of viral diseases, and the situation in Eastern Africa is reaching a crisis stage. The goal is to use the genome sequence to accelerate the discovery and use of viral resistance/tolerance.

Selected Publications

Sharpton TJ, Stajich JE, Rounsley SD, Gardner MJ, Wortman JR, Jordar VS, Maiti R, Kodira CD, Neafsey DE, Zeng Q, Hung CY, McMahan C, Muszewska A, Grynberg M, Mandel MA, Kellner EM, Barker BM, Galgiani. Aug 2009. Comparative genomic analyses of the human fungal pathogens Coccidioides and their relatives. Genome Res,2009 Aug 28;

Coleman JJ, Rounsley SD, Rodriguez-Carres M, Kuo A, Wasmann CC, Grimwood J, Schmutz J, Taga M, White GJ, Zhou S, Schwartz DC, Freitag M, Ma LJ, Danchin EG, Henrissat B, Coutinho PM, Nelson DR, Straney. Aug 2009. The genome of Nectria haematococca: contribution of supernumerary chromosomes to gene expansion. PLoS Genet, 5:e1000618