Melanie Kalischuk, University of Guelph

Research

clonal variation CRISPR Cas9 Gene editing Crop improvement disease resistance fresh market potato improvement Genomic repair Plant pathology in potato Plant selection with desirable trait

Latest papers

Advances in CRISPR Plant Applications.
International journal of molecular sciences · 2026 · senior author
RNA Interference Past and Future Applications in Plants.
International journal of molecular sciences · 2023 · senior author
Amplification of cell signaling and disease resistance by an immunity receptor Ve1Ve2 heterocomplex in plants.
Communications biology · 2022 · first author

All 3 publications

Latest funding

Developing a clean plant program for Cannabis sativa to manage viral diseases
NSERC · 2023 · Co-investigator
$210,000
Introduction of CRISPR and clonal derived potato variety agronomic and immunity improvements
NSERC · 2022 · Principal investigator
$150,000

All 2 grants and awards

3 publications.

01

Advances in CRISPR Plant Applications.

Jing L, Roy D, Kalischuk M

International journal of molecular sciences2026Senior author

DOI: 10.3390/ijms27094095 PMID: 42123673

02

RNA Interference Past and Future Applications in Plants.

Koeppe S, Kawchuk L, Kalischuk M

International journal of molecular sciences2023Senior author

DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119755 PMID: 37298705

03

Amplification of cell signaling and disease resistance by an immunity receptor Ve1Ve2 heterocomplex in plants.

Kalischuk M, Müller B, Fusaro AF, Wijekoon CP, Waterhouse PM, Prüfer D, Kawchuk L

Communications biology2022First author

DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03439-0 PMID: 35614138

Developing a clean plant program for Cannabis sativa to manage viral diseases

Co-investigatorNSERC2023Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Jones, Andrew AM

Keywords: cannabis; clean plant program; cryotherapy; hop laten viroid; meristem culture; rnai; virus

$210,000

Introduction of CRISPR and clonal derived potato variety agronomic and immunity improvements

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Kalischuk, Melanie L

Keywords: clonal variation; crispr cas9 gene editing; crop improvement; disease resistance; fresh market potato improvement; genomic repair; plant pathology in potato; plant selection with desirable trait; precision breeding; specialty crops innovation

$150,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: clonal variation Dear Professor Kalischuk, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Advances in CRISPR Plant Applications." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Introduction of CRISPR and clonal derived potato variety agronomic and immunity improvements" (2022), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]