Gitta Coaker

@gittacoaker.bsky.social

2226 Followers 1247 Following

Professor at UC Davis, studying plant immunity and bacterial pathogens. Loves weightlifting, running, and the outdoors. Views are my own.

Tirtha Lamichhane at the podium. Exploration of the Interactions between Xanthomonas citri - Agrobacterium and citrus to improve transient expression in plants
Hannah Toth at the podium. Convergence of plasmid-borne effectors drive recent lineage emergence
Charis Ramsing at the podium. Slipping through the cracks: how Clavibacter exploits plant anatomy to advance disease.
Nian Wang at the podium. Engineering plant disease resistance by targeting pathogenicity mechanisms via CRISPR genome editing.
Roger Innes at the podium. Engineering Resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematodes using decoy substrates of SCN proteases.
Nicole Donofrio at the podium. Microbial wars: understanding the interplay between a potentially plant beneficial bacterium and pathogenic fungi.
Sheng Yang He at the podium. Bacterial effector biology: from basic understanding to potential applications
Gitta and Charis by a river with fire
My dog and I in front of a field with the sunset behind us
A cat’s life magazine cover
Postdoctoral Scholar position in the Coaker group University of California, Davis We are seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar to join our research program focused on immune receptor engineering and spatial analyses of plant pathogens interactions using computational and imaging approaches. The position will involve integration of molecular, imaging, and computational approaches. Relevant publications from the laboratory include Nature Plants (2025, PMID: 40721669), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024, PMID: 38814867), and Cell Reports (2023, PMID: 37342910). https://www.coakerlab.org/ Qualifications: • Ph.D. in plant biology, molecular biology, genetics, computational biology, or a related field • Strong background in genomics and/or computational biology • First author publications in peer-reviewed journals • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment • Experience in plant innate immunity is preferred Application Instructions: The position is initially available for two years, with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding. Salary is based on the University of California postdoctoral salary scale (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-oct-2025-scales/t23.pdf). The salary range for this position is $69,073-$82,836 US Dollars/year. Review of applications will begin June 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Please submit a CV, a brief statement of research interests (~1 page), and contact information for three references to glcoaker@ucdavis.edu. The research statement should describe your previous work, how your expertise aligns with ongoing research in the lab, and potential future research directions.
Orange cat in a box
Li-Jun Ma presenting her work on Fusarium.
Golden Gate Bridge, sf
Charis Ramsing delivering a seminar and reminding the audience about xylem anatomy.
Due to the Radical Left Democrat shutdown, staff from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture have been unable to answer questions related to grant applications or provide technical assistance to potential applicants for programs with an open Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). As a result, application deadlines for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science (FAS) Program (USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011134) will be extended, with new deadlines communicated upon the conclusion of the Radical Left Democrat shutdown. If an application has already been submitted, applicants may revise and resubmit prior to the new deadline.
Orange sleepy kitten on a blanket
super cute orange kitten
Photo of me and my son in front of the pool at Hearst castle
Slide with images of speakers
Coyote camouflaged in grass staring at me.
Woman smiling by a water tower with the letter “I” painted on it.
No kings protest woman waiving a US flag with protestors at the courthouse in front.
My husband holding his many onions
My mom sitting on my dad’s lap
Gitta and Tianrun in the office
website for USDA AFRI competitive grants. Frozen. No new awards or calls for research.
My husband and I in our backyard with a blooming rose bush.
Protesters in front of the capital
Hands off protest at the California capital Saturday April 15th 11-2:30.
Snorkeling shot
Sunrise by the beach
Bench press. 20lbs per side.
My husband and I on the tennis court
Stand up for science March 7th 12-4pm Event will be taking place on the West side of the Capitol building. https://standupforscience2025.org/sacramento-ca/
Stand up for science cut out
Almond orchard in bloom. Petals on the ground resemble a dusting of snow.
13 year old doing split jump on beam
Leg press. 180 lbs, 82kg
Dani Stevens presenting her research at UC Davis
Treadmill with two miles completed