Dr. Maryam Rahmati Ishka
Assistant Professor Office: 3076 - Life SciencesPhone: 217-581-3126
Email: mrahmatiishka@eiu.edu
INTRODUCTION
Dr. Ishka is a plant molecular biologist who is trained and passionate about understanding how plants perceive and respond to developmental and environmental cues to adjust their growth and development.
Dr. Ishka earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Plant Science from Urmia and Tarbiat Modares University, respectively, in Iran. During her master's degree, Dr. Ishka investigated the impacts of heavy metals on the antioxidant capacity of the tea plant through cell and hydroponic culture. She then served as a lecturer in several private and national universities before coming to the United States. She joined Dr. Jeff Harper's lab at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) as a research assistant, followed by entering graduate school at UNR, where she received her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, investigated calcium signaling in pollen development in the model plant Arabidopsis. After graduation, she joined Dr. Olena Vatamaniuk's Lab at Cornell University as a postdoctoral scholar, where she established the role of micronutrient copper in plant growth and development in Arabidopsis and the model grass, Brachypodium. She then moved on to work with Dr. Magda Julkowska at Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) to challenge her developmental skills by working on the belowground part of the plants; ROOT, where she identified genes critical for the maintenance of root development under salt stress in Arabidopsis and tomato. Dr. Ishka joined the faculty team at Eastern Illinois University in the Department of Biological Sciences in 2025. Her research focus is on decoding the genetic elements of plant growth and development across all developmental scales in response to internal and external cues. The overarching objective of Dr. Ishka’s research is to understand, identify, and translate the genetic mechanisms of plants' plasticity.
Education & Training
B.S., Plant Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran (2001)
M.S., Plant Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran (2005)
Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), Reno, NV, USA (2015)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University and Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY (2017-2025)
During my postdoctoral research, I demonstrated the essential role of micronutrient copper in the reproductive development of model plants Arabidopsis and Brachypodium as well as utilized omics approaches to identify genes potentially linked to the lateral root development in Arabidopsis and tomato under salt stress.
Frequently Taught Courses
BIO3200 Genetics (4 credits) - Offered in the Spring and Fall semesters
BIO3510 Plant Physiology (4 credits) - Offered in the Spring semester
Research & Creative Interests
At the Ishka Lab, we focus on uncovering the genetic mechanisms that drive plant plasticity in response to both internal and external signals. Our ongoing projects include:
- How reproductive genes regulate whole-plant stress tolerance.
- Investigating how environmental stressors alter plant architecture.
- Investigating the physiological responses of pathogen-resistant inbred soybeans.
We take a multidisciplinary approach, combining forward and reverse genetics with molecular biology techniques, including gene expression analysis, cloning, real-time PCR, microscopy, histology, phenotyping, and omics technologies. We work with a variety of plant species, including the model plant Arabidopsis, for our genetic discoveries.
Students who join our lab projects will gain hands-on experience in becoming independent scientists, taking their work from project design and experimental setup through data collection, analysis, interpretation, and ultimately scientific writing and presentation. Throughout this process, students will receive close mentorship through direct supervision and weekly meetings, as well as guidance on scholarship applications and professional development opportunities to support their future career paths.
Meet the Ishka Lab Team
The lab members are listed in reverse chronological order, with our newest members appearing at the top.
Kamryn Sturdy: 2026
Grant Feiner: 2026
Tristan Williams: 2026
Tristan was a pioneer in the Ishka Lab, working tirelessly with our soybean plants. Thank you, Tristan, for growing and caring for the plants so beautifully. They definitely love you!
Liz Ziemer: 2026
Danielle Wildermuth: SU2026 (Graduate student)
Shiloh Frederick: SP2026
Mya Watkins : 2025-2026
Mya was the first member of the Ishka Lab and helped lay the foundation for our lab. Thank you, Mya, for being such an important part of the beginning of our journey.
Open Opportunities in the Ishka Lab
We welcome curious, motivated, and passionate individuals who are excited about plants and plant science!
The Ishka Lab currently welcomes undergraduate and graduate students, Ph.D. students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scholars. Postdoctoral researchers and visiting scholars should have their own funding or fellowship support.
If you are interested in joining our lab and contribute to our research, reach out to Dr. Ishka (mrahmatiishka@eiu.edu) to discuss potential research opportunities.
Conference Presentations
2026
April 24 - 27: Joint MU/Corteva Plant Research Symposium and Midwest ASPB, Columbia, MO
Maryam was invited to give a talk at the MU/Corteva Plant Research Symposium.
January 31 - February 2: 9th National and 1st International Conference of Plant Physiology, Water and Life Crisis, University of Guilan, Rasht, IRAN
Maryam delivered a presentation at the conference as an invited honorary speaker.
2025
July 26–30: PB2025 Conference, Milwaukee, WI
Maryam received the American Society of Plant Biologists 2025 Women Young Investigator Award and presented at the Plant Biology 2025 Conference in Milwaukee, WI.
Maryam had a great time reconnecting with friends and colleagues!
Latest News
2026
August 2026: Maryam's career path was featured in the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) News. Congratulations on this wonderful achievement!
June 2026: Maryam hosted high school students from the Gloria J. Taylor Foundation for a week-long research experience in Plant Science! It was a wonderful and rewarding experience.
April 2026: Mya presented a poster on her research from Ishka's lab at EIU Research Day.
February 2026: Maryam visited UIUC and gave a talk in the Plant Biology department.
January 2026: Shiloh Frederick, Tristan Williams, and Liz Ziemer have joined the lab and begun working on varoius aspects of plant development. Welcome aboard everyone!
2025
November 2025: Mya Watkins applied for a student fellowship award from the Illinois State Academy of Science. Good luck!
October 2025: Maryam received 2025 Fall CFR Research and Creative Activity Award. Congrats!
Mya Watkins has joined the lab and begun working on several projects. Welcome, Mya!
July 26–30, 2025: Maryam traveled to Milwaukee for PB2025 conference and gave a talk.
July–August 2025: Lab setup! Huge thanks to all colleagues in the department for their support during the transition. Special appreciation to my wonderful family:
- Mohammad, for replacing and installing lights in growth chambers and racks, organizing chemical inventory, and handling heavy work.
- Diana, for printing and labeling the shelves.
- Aran, for organizing the shelves.
- Danial, for modifying the label maker (adding stars), even though we couldn’t revert it back.
July 10, 2025: Maryam planted seeds for the first time in the Thut Greenhouse—let the experiments begin!
July 2, 2025: Arrived at Eastern and were warmly welcomed by Budika.
Funding & Grants
2025 Fall CFR Research and Creative Activity Award
Publications
2026
Maryam Rahmati Ishka, Jiantao Zhao, Hayley Sussman, Devasantosh Mohanty, Li'ang Yu, Eric Craft, Miguel Pineros et al. "Genomics Approach Links ROS‐Scavenging to Enhanced Lateral Root Development Under Salt Stress in Tomato." Plant, Cell & Environment (2026).
Maryam Rahmati Ishka, Eric Craft, Miguel Pineros, and Magdalena M. Julkowska. "Exogenous Hormone Treatments Reveal Species‐Specific Regulation of Individual Components of Root Architecture and Salt Ion Accumulation in Cultivated and Wild Tomatoes." Plant Direct 10, no. 5 (2026): e70169.
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For a complete list of Dr. Ishka’s publications, please visit her Google Scholar profile:
Professional Affiliations
2025 – present: Illinois State Academy of Science (ISAS)
2025 – present: New York Academy of Science (NYAS)
2021 – present: American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB)
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