天美传媒

The Topp laboratory deploys X-ray-based imaging and analysis of corn and other root systems to develop more robust and sustainable crops.

While at the University of Georgia pursuing a genetics degree, Chris began studying plant pathogens. Interested in cutting-edge and emerging technologies, he worked as a research tech in an NSF-funded plant science lab to develop artificial chromosomes, an example of early synthetic biology. In grad school, he focused on maize, realizing that this crop could have the biggest impact: 鈥淚n the U.S., there are about 90 million acres of corn planted each year. At an average density of 30,000 plants per acre, that鈥檚 2.7 trillion corn plants. It鈥檚 been said there are more corn seeds are planted each year than stars in the Milky Way.鈥�

After launching his professional career at Duke University, Chris is today a principal investigator at the Danforth Center working to unlock the secrets of the hidden half of plants.

When Chris learned about specialized 3D X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) systems for very large objects used in the aerospace industry, he saw a new potential application. In 2016, a partnership with Valent BioSciences, along with funding from the National Science Foundation, brought one of these 8-ton machines to the Danforth Center. The success of this instrument soon led to a smaller, but more powerful X-ray microscope to look at root-microbial interactions. Now the Topp lab can see the 3D subterranean world of roots nondestructively, at least for plants growing in large containers. The Topp lab鈥檚 X-ray CT and microscope facility for plant science at the Danforth Center is unique in the world.

Tamas Varga leads a team of researchers in the Biogeochemical Transformations team. He has been a senior research scientist at EMSL since 2009. He received his PhD in Chemistry in 2005 from Georgia Institute of Technology following his MS in Chemistry from the University of Debrecen, and MS in Economics from the University of Miskolc, both in Hungary.
Before PNNL, he spent his postdoctoral years at the University of California, Davis (2005-2007) and Argonne National Laboratory (2007-2009). He supports the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray computed tomography (XCT) user program at EMSL, maintains the XRD and XCT facilities in part, and develops his own research program utilizing EMSL's capabilities and those at other national user facilities for collaborative research. As part of user support, he performs XRD characterization of various types of samples (powder, thin film, etc.), and XCT imaging of a range of materials (biological, geological, etc.).
He has published over 110 journal articles, a book chapter, and given several invited talks at conferences and research institutions. He has also been active in scientific editing, conference chairing, proposal review panels in the materials science and synchrotron science areas, and mentoring the younger generation in science.