This research is a component of ARS National Programs 305 (Crop Production) and 304 (Crop Protection & Quarantine). Throughout the course of this project, the participant will learn about project management by being a part of research aimed at identifying key differences in physiology, growth characteristics, photosynthetic capacities, adaptability, competitiveness, and responses to stress and other fitness criteria of invasive and wild-type versus herbicide-resistant weed biotypes. The participant will learn to collect and analyze data related to weed control, herbicide efficacy, and comparison of whole-plant physiological processes of herbicide-resistant weed populations with corresponding susceptible populations under controlled environmental conditions. These insights are important for predicting the ecological success of resistant populations and developing more sustainable, integrated weed management strategies. This project will also involve close collaboration with USDA-ARS scientists specializing in plant physiology, molecular biology, genomics, and herbicide resistance to advance understanding of resistance mechanisms and support the development of novel weed management solutions for problematic weeds in Mississippi cropping systems. Through participation in this research project, the participant will gain experience managing growth chamber and greenhouse studies and establishing new experiments to investigate weed control, physiological responses, and herbicide resistance mechanisms.