Rebecca Nelson’s laboratory works on disease resistance in crops with a focus on maize, with broader interests and activities relating to agroecology and food systems. Her laboratory is analyzing the genetic architecture of quantitative disease resistance and dissecting mechanisms that impair pathogen development, with a special interest in mycotoxin resistance and management. Through the McKnight CCRP, she supports a portfolio of research projects aimed at improving food security in developing countries in Africa and Latin America. She co-teaches courses in international development and public health.