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Posted On: October 13th 2026, 02:23 pm
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🌱 GRAD STUDENT SPOTLIGHT | Meet Connor Purvis!
From herbicide resistance to soil microbiomes, Connor is exploring what makes weeds so adaptable! 🔬🌿
Originally from Florence, South Carolina, Connor is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Crop and Soil Sciences, working in Dr. Erin Burns’ Weed Science Lab at Michigan State University.
His research focuses on Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) and three key aspects of its invasiveness:
🌱 Herbicide resistance: Understanding the mechanisms that allow weeds to survive herbicide treatments.
🧬 Crop-to-weed hybridization: Investigating gene flow between Johnsongrass and cultivated sorghum (Sorghum bicolor).
🦠 Soil microbiomes: Exploring how soil microbial communities change under Johnsongrass infestations.
As Connor prepares for the next chapter of his career, he’s especially interested in how plants interact with soil microorganisms and whether weed adaptability extends to their microbial partners belowground.
🧘 Fun fact: During his PhD, Connor became a big fan of hot yoga! He highly recommends it for managing stress and staying warm during Michigan winters. ❄️
We’re excited to highlight Connor and the research happening in our PSM community!
📲 Follow his journey: @connor_purvis_
#MSUPSM #GradStudentSpotlight #WeedScience #PlantScience #MichiganStateUniversity
From herbicide resistance to soil microbiomes, Connor is exploring what makes weeds so adaptable! 🔬🌿
Originally from Florence, South Carolina, Connor is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Crop and Soil Sciences, working in Dr. Erin Burns’ Weed Science Lab at Michigan State University.
His research focuses on Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) and three key aspects of its invasiveness:
🌱 Herbicide resistance: Understanding the mechanisms that allow weeds to survive herbicide treatments.
🧬 Crop-to-weed hybridization: Investigating gene flow between Johnsongrass and cultivated sorghum (Sorghum bicolor).
🦠 Soil microbiomes: Exploring how soil microbial communities change under Johnsongrass infestations.
As Connor prepares for the next chapter of his career, he’s especially interested in how plants interact with soil microorganisms and whether weed adaptability extends to their microbial partners belowground.
🧘 Fun fact: During his PhD, Connor became a big fan of hot yoga! He highly recommends it for managing stress and staying warm during Michigan winters. ❄️
We’re excited to highlight Connor and the research happening in our PSM community!
📲 Follow his journey: @connor_purvis_
#MSUPSM #GradStudentSpotlight #WeedScience #PlantScience #MichiganStateUniversity
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