My research focuses on the process of plant grafting: how two plants join together after cutting to form a chimeric organism. This technique has horticultural relevance, but also has scientific interest as grafting demonstrates a remarkable ability to heal wounds and overcome recognition barriers to adhere tissues and connect the vasculature. I am using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to investigate how plants graft at the molecular, genetic and developmental levels. I have developed a series of tools that allow me to monitor cell division, cell differentiation and vascular connection at the graft junction. Now, my research focus on what genes and processes are driving connection, and understanding why certain plant species readily graft, whereas others do not. This self/non-self recognition may be key to understanding how parasitic plants infect their hosts and have relevance for improving graft formation and combating parasitic plant infections.