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AdaptiveTranscription
Laboratory (ATLab)

Deciphering plant adaptation to environmental stress through transcriptional complexity. We integrate molecular biology, RNA research, and systems biology to engineer the next generation of climate-resilient crops.

Alternative Splicing Networks

Unraveling the complex regulatory networks that control alternative splicing under environmental stress conditions.

Stress Response Models

Studying cold, heat, and drought responses in Arabidopsis, tomato, and tree models to understand adaptation mechanisms.

Network Analysis

Using graph theory and network science to model transcriptional complexity and regulatory interactions in plant stress responses.

Root–Soil Interactions

Investigating how plants coordinate with soil microbiota at the molecular level to enhance stress tolerance and nutrient acquisition.

Our Approach

Our research focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which plants respond to diverse environmental stresses. Ultimately, we aim to leverage these insights to strategically manipulate target genes, advancing biotechnology for applied agriculture and the development of climate-resilient crops.

Transcriptional Complexity

Systems Biology

Integrating multi-omics data to understand how transcriptional networks respond to environmental perturbations and drive adaptation mechanisms.

Molecular Mechanisms

Investigating the biochemical basis of alternative splicing regulation and its role in generating transcriptional diversity under stress conditions.

Computational Biology

Developing algorithms and tools for analyzing high-throughput sequencing data to identify novel regulatory patterns and splice variants.

▶ EXPLORE RESEARCH
// NETWORK_BIO.SYS

Network Biology

Graph-based approaches

Our laboratory uses network analysis and graph theory to model the complex relationships between genes, transcripts, and proteins in plant stress responses.

By mapping molecular interactions as networks, we identify key regulatory hubs and predict how environmental perturbations affect transcriptional complexity across plant species.

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The Team

🤖

Dr. Alexander Vergara

Principal Investigator

Ph.D.

👾 [ TO BE FILLED ]

[Postdoc Name]

Postdoctoral Researcher
🦸 [ TO BE FILLED ]

[PhD Student 1]

PhD Student
🧙‍♀️ [ TO BE FILLED ]

[PhD Student 2]

PhD Student

Selected Publications

◈ GOOGLE SCHOLAR PROFILE
2026

IsoformMapper: A Web Application for Protein-Level Comparison of Splice Variants through Structural Community Analysis

Vergara A, Hernández-Verdeja T, Ojeda-May P, Ramirez L, Edler D, Rosvall M, Strand Å et al.

RNA 32(1):1–20
2026

Comparative Genomics of Cold Temperature Responses in Boreal Tree Roots

Aro T, van Zalen E, Vergara A, Canovi C, Kumar V, Dimmen Chapple E et al.

In press · 2026
2022

GENOMES UNCOUPLED1 Plays a Key Role during the De-etiolation Process in Arabidopsis

Hernández-Verdeja T, Vuorijoki L, Jin X, Vergara A, Dubreuil C, Strand Å

New Phytologist 235(1):188–203
▶ FULL LIST ON GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Join Us

We are always looking for motivated students and researchers to join the lab. If you are interested in RNA biology, plant stress, or computational biology, reach out — we would love to hear from you.

Instituto de Ciencias de la Ingeniería · Universidad de O'Higgins

Rancagua, Chile

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