May/June 2015 • Volume 42, Number 3

p. 5 p. 26 p. 29 ASPB 2015 Award SURF 2015 Obituary Winners A new wave of Albert W. Frenkel ASPB honors plant undergraduate 1919–2015 scientists for their research coming exellence in research, this summer education, outreach, and service

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS

President’s Letter Plant Biology Time to PhD—Time to Publish 2015 JULIAN SCHROEDER University of California, San Diego See You in

Minneapolis! n this letter I would like necessary to generate a PhD to address two interlinked thesis in the life sciences. This Iproblems and offer possible very long training period and solutions to both of them: (1) the limited number of academic July 26–30! the relatively long duration of job openings can discour- PhD graduate studies in many age talented young scientists countries and (2) the increasing from pursuing PhDs and their time it can take from research careers in the plant sciences. advance to publication. In the On the upside, recent analy- latter case, I will also address ses have highlighted the need innovations that are being for trained PhD plant scientists Julian Schroeder implemented toward reducing (http://bit.ly/ZsHLrj), and the time to publication by The Plant Cell’s a report from the STEM Connector Food new editor-in-chief, Sabeeha Merchant, and Ag Council (http://bit.ly/1EMiGEo) and her editorial team. Additionally, recent projects substantial job growth in plant- and procedures in Plant Physiology are geared to agriculture-related industries, with a combi- shortening time to publication as well. nation of net new positions and looming The plant sciences—and indeed all scien- retirements generating over 160,000 vacan- tific disciplines—rely on new directions of cies in the United States alone over the next research and new perspectives. Because young 10 years. There are many careers that trained scientists often generate these new ideas, it is plant scientists can embark on in addition to essential to provide opportunities for them to academia, including industry, biotechnology, Online registration grow and succeed in their disciplines. the business side within companies, educa- Unfortunately, on the downside, in the tion, plant-linked information technology, open until July 12 United States and many other countries, it can instrumentation, big data–related jobs, envi- often take over six years to complete the work continued on page 4 Contents ASPB staff are dedicated to serving our members. We welcome your questions and feedback. For quick response, e-mail us at [email protected] or visit our FAQ at www.aspb.org/faq. ASPB Executive Committee 1 President’s Letter President Julian Schroeder Immediate past president Alan M. Jones 3 Plant Biology 2015 President-elect Rick Dixon Secretary Karen Koch 5 ASPB Announces 2015 Awards Treasurer Karen Koster Chair, Board of Trustees Rob McClung 9 ASPB’s 2015 Women’s Young Investigator Travel Chair, Publications Committee Neil Olszewski Award Winners Announced Chair, Women in Plant Biology Committee Marisa Otegui Chair, Minority Affairs Committee Adán Colón-Carmona 10 ASPB’s New Meetings Business Unit Supports a Chair, Education Committee Kathleen Archer Broader Plant Science Dialogue Chair, International Committee Tuan-hua David Ho Chair, Membership Committee David Horvath 24 Recognizing Our Authors Chair, Science Policy Committee Patrick Schnable Elected members Elizabeth (Lisa) Ainsworth Joe Kieber Section News MariaElena B. Zavala Sectional Representatives 11 Midwestern Section Holds Successful Meeting Midwestern Ed Cahoon Northeastern Om Parkash Dhankher 12 Southern Section 2015 Meeting Report Southern Rebecca Dickstein Mid-Atlantic Hemayet Ullah Western Camille Steber Membership Corner 13 Ian Street ASPB Staff

Executive director Crispin Taylor, [email protected] Director of finance and administration Kim Kimnach, [email protected] People Executive and governance affairs administrator Sylvia Lee, [email protected] 14 Eric Hamilton Awarded ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Accounts receivable and payable specialist Stephanie Liu-Kuan, [email protected] Senior staff accountant Jotee Pundu, [email protected] Fellowship Director of meetings and events Jean Rosenberg, [email protected] Director, digital strategy and member services Susan Cato, [email protected] Manager, Member Services Shoshana Kronfeld, [email protected] Science Policy Meetings, marketing, and membership assistant Melanie Binder, [email protected] 15 Policy Update Legislative and public affairs director Tyrone Spady, [email protected] Education coordinator Katie Engen, [email protected] 17 Science Policy Committee Meets in Washington, D.C. Director of publications Nancy A. Winchester, [email protected] Publications assistant Diane McCauley, [email protected] Subscriptions manager Suzanne Cholwek, [email protected] Education Forum Subscriptions assistant Linda Palmer, [email protected] Managing editor Patti Lockhart, [email protected] 18 ASPB at the 2015 White House Easter Egg Roll Science writer, Plant Physiology Peter Minorsky, [email protected] Production manager, Plant Physiology Jon Munn, [email protected] 20 Advice from a Postdoc Manuscript manager, Plant Physiology Ashton Wolf, [email protected] 21 A Children’s Workshop: Rooting Around the World Senior features editor, The Plant Cell Nan Eckardt, [email protected] Features editor, The Plant Cell Mary Williams, [email protected] of Plants Production manager, The Plant Cell Susan Entwistle, [email protected] 23 ASPB at NSTA 2015 Manuscript manager, The Plant Cell Annette Kessler, [email protected] The ASPB News is distributed to all ASPB members and is also available online. It is pub- lished six times annually in odd-numbered months. Its purposes are to keep membership 26 2015 SURF Winners informed of ASPB activities and to reinforce the value of membership. The ASPB News is edited and produced by ASPB staff from material provided by members and other interested parties. Copy deadline is the 5th day of the preceding even-numbered month (for example, Obituary December 5 for January/February publication). Contact: Nancy A. Winchester, Editor, ASPB News, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 29 Albert W. Frenkel 20855-2768 USA; [email protected]; 301-296-0904. © 2015 American Society of Plant Biologists

2  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Online registration open until July 12

Come for the science, come for the posters, and come to spend quality and fun time with colleagues!

U.S. Federal Funding Agencies Up Their Bioinformatics Resources for Plant Biology Research Presence at PB2015 Two workshops will feature presentations from Araport, Bio- This year there are four workshops that highlight the work and Analytic Resource, KBase, Legume Federation, MaizeGDB, Plant contributions of U.S. government agencies. Reactome, and TAIR describing the resources and tools at their respective sites. • The conversation kicks off on Monday, July 27, with a noon- hour grantsmanship workshop with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Energy, Make New Connections and Have Some Fun! and the National Science Foundation (NSF). • At 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, join the editors of Plant • That evening NSF takes the podium again from 7:00 to 9:00 Physiology and The Plant Cell and Society leadership for light to explain the criteria its decision makers use to assess the refreshments and a serious dialogue about the issues facing ~50,000 research proposals they review each year—and to your profession and your professional society. select the ~11,000 they are able to fund. • At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, the Environmental and • At noon on Tuesday, July 28, a panel representing USDA, the Ecological Plant Physiology Section holds an open meeting. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug • AND FINALLY—back by popular demand—we’re delighted to Administration will review the regulatory environment for announce that The Nines will rock our Final Party at 8:30 p.m. genetically engineered plants in the United States. Wednesday, July 29. They were a favorite during ASPB’s 2014 • And at noon on Wednesday, July 29, ASPB’s Science Policy closing party at the World Forestry Center in Portland, and Committee (http://my.aspb.org/?G_Leadership#policy) hosts a they’re joining us in Minneapolis for a repeat performance. If session on the millions of dollars that the newly formed Foun- you missed the show the first time, or it’s just been too long dation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) will funnel since you’ve heard them, check out this fabulous video (http:// into plant science under the 2014 Farm Bill. FFAR’s mandate to www.lovethenines.com/video/). And don’t forget to come support research, innovation, and partnerships for America’s early to take part in the first annual ping-pong and foosball agricultural economy makes this an exciting time for plant biol- tournament! ogy, and this session will help you figure out what it all means for your own research program. Ready to register? Take a comprehensive look at all that Plant Biology 2015 has to offer— including the full listing of minisymposia—at plantbiology.aspb.org.

ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  3 PRESIDENT’S LETTER from about three to four years, and advancing knowledge and scien- submitted manuscript with their continued from page 1 some countries are seeing a trend tific discourse. You might argue mentor. In such cases it is up to ronmental work, patent law, and in reducing PhD durations closer that mentors may actually benefit the mentor to ask the key question communications to name just a to four years or less. Thus, it is from publication delays, because of their co-reviewer: “If a reviewer few. So how can we ensure that we clearly possible; however, there is the research advances in their labs requested this many interesting are training young talent in ways a big fly in the ointment—but one can continue without competi- but perhaps not immediately that enable them to meet the chal- that we as a community can also tion for, say, another year or two required experiments for your lenges and needs of the future? fix. This brings me to the second before this advance becomes manuscript, would you want to The plant sciences community subject of this letter: publicly available. I have yet to have to work through a long list of has come together and proposed hear this opinion from mentors, often difficult experiments before its first decadal vision, with Time to Publication… who also bemoan the lengthy you can publish your finding or among other goals, to signifi- Reducing the time to PhD sounds times to publication themselves, complete your degree? Or would cantly shorten the time from great to many young scientists. just like students and postdocs. you rather be given the opportu- the beginning of undergraduate And if you have made a discovery So what went wrong on the nity to pursue a follow-up study studies to completion of the PhD or important advance in your way to publication? What has led focusing on your interests?” degree to about seven years (i.e., PhD research, you would of to these delays? One factor might Some journals (meaning us— three to four years PhD duration) course like to publish it, prefer- be our tendency to inadvertently the reviewers and editors) have and has proposed approaches ably as a first-authored paper. embrace lengthy supplementary inadvertently pushed for longer for broadening the professional However, the trend in the life sci- data files. Does publication of and longer publications, with the preparation of graduate students. ences over the past dozen years behemoth papers really lead to rationale that long papers would An abbreviated background has been that publications, and more solid advances in the litera- represent “complete” studies. But on the decadal vision: Plant in particular supplemental data, ture? Is it worth delaying commu- is there really such a thing as a sciences communities (http:// have ballooned to indigestible nity access to new advances by a “complete study,” and are longer bit.ly/1IGhyrq) in the United lengths. How can a graduate stu- year or two? I have not heard any papers more reliable than an States have worked to develop dent who has made a discovery or true benefits being proclaimed initial publication and follow-up the decadal vision for innovation a relevant advance possibly com- by the community. From my own research within roughly the same in plant science for 2015 to 2025 plete all of those experiments? experience as a young scientist, time frame? There is also the issue (http://bit.ly/1Fj1IC3). Several The same question applies to I was taught that if you make a that journal editors may seek the societies, including ASPB with postdoctoral associates who also scientific advance and are fortu- higher impact factor as their holy nate to publish it, it is upon you leadership provided by Sally need to report their advances. grail, and this may inadvertently (or perhaps the lab that you will Mackenzie and David Stern, are Undeniably, publication is an lead to longer publications. It is be leaving with your degree in working to promote this vision. important “currency” by which arguable whether longer papers young scientists are evaluated for hand) to pursue “follow-up” stud- This forward-looking document aid in this goal. There might is providing plant scientists with a their next career steps. ies. Thus, what is today’s supple- also be a conflict of interest for platform to speak with a common If we step back from the early mentary data, in the past often mentors who may not want to “let voice and communicate common career investigators for a minute, appeared in follow-up publica- go” of their students and postdocs goals with elected representatives the delayed publication of solid tions rather than in supplements. once they have been trained. But (see page 23 of the September/ research advances is also detri- Undoubtedly, supplements carry helping trained scientists advance October 2013 issue of the ASPB mental to the scientific commu- an important value in the age of their career goals is the nature of News [http://bit.ly/1cEItaR]). nity. These days it is not unusual “big data,” but their definition may a faculty mentor’s job. It is to a large degree up to us to for publication to take one to over have slowly expanded to include a I don’t want to belabor a prob- shorten the time to PhD to a more two years longer than it did 15 parking place for reviewers’ most lem without also offering a solu- reasonable time of, for example, years ago. This lag also delays the favored experiments. tion. So what’s the solution? Some four years. You might ask “Is this ability of the community to use Ironically, anecdotal evidence journals, including eLife and The at all possible?” In England, the this information in their research suggests that young scientists are Plant Cell, are now instituting recommended time to PhD has and to test the validity and not immune to requesting many been three years for a long time, boundaries of new models. As new experiments when reviewing quite simple solutions. In these with four years usually being the graduate research is, by and large, manuscripts. It can be a young journals reviewers and handling absolute maximum. The Bologna funded by governments, this scientist who brings up a shop- editors are being asked to deter- agreement in Europe recommend- delay also postpones the return ping list of new experiments mine: (1) Is the manuscript suit- ed the duration of a PhD to be on public investment toward when reviewing or co-reviewing a continued on page 12 4  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 ASPB Announces 2015 Awards

ach year, ASPB honors plant scientists for their Eexcellence in research, education, outreach, and service, conferring numerous awards to those who promote the mission of our Society. We are proud to an- nounce this year’s recipients.

ASPB Innovation Prize for Fred Perlak Agricultural Technology Sherri Brown Monsanto David Fischhoff Sherri Brown David Fischhoff The Climate Corporation Mike Koziel Charles Albert Shull Award Athenix Cyril Zipfel Fred Perlak Cambridge University Monsanto Cyril Zipfel, who heads The The inaugural 2015 ASPB Sainsbury Laboratory, is the Innovation Prize for Agricultural 2015 recipient of the Charles Technology is awarded jointly Albert Shull Award. Cyril played to Sherri Brown (Monsanto), a leading role in the discovery Cyril Zipfel David Fischhoff (The Climate of pattern-triggered immunity Corporation), Mike Koziel in plants, which included char- (Athenix), and Fred Perlak acterizing the bacterial peptides (Monsanto). Their leadership of flagellin (flg22) and EF-Tu (elf18) pioneering research and develop- as pattern-associated molecular ment teams led to the engineering markers that activate signaling Mike Koziel of commercially viable varieties by the receptor-like kinases FLS2 of cotton and corn that express and EFR, respectively, leading fers immunity to a broad range of derivatives of insecticidal proteins to plant immunity. He found bacteria, and he has extended this from Bacillus thuringiensis. The that the BAK1 brassinosteroid approach to cereals. insect-resistant crops that they coreceptor also cooperates with developed, and subsequent gener- FLS2 and EFR, and he identified Charles Reid Barnes Life ations of improved varieties, have residues of BAK1 that are key Membership Award had a major impact on crop yields to specifying coreceptor output Wendy F. Boss in both developed and developing toward brassinosteroid signaling, countries. These crops have also cell death control, or innate im- North Carolina State University Wendy Boss had significant environmental munity. Cyril also made the major This year’s Charles Reid Barnes benefits by reducing the use of practical discovery that trans- Life Membership Award for life- Carolina State University’s chemical pesticides. genic expression of Arabidopsis long service in plant biology goes Department of Plant Biology. EFR in solanaceous species, to Wendy F. Boss, the William ASPB recognizes Wendy for her which normally do not recognize Neal Reynolds Distinguished trailblazing three decades of the bacterial ligand EF-Tu, con- Professor Emeritus at North continued on page 6 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  5 Maria Harrison Daniel Chitwood Joe Louis Stanley Roux

ASPB AWARDS phosphate transport is linked to his extraordinary contributions excellent citation records. Joe has continued from page 5 maintenance of symbiosis and to the systems analysis of large, trained and mentored many stu- work in the particularly challeng- that plants use classic hormone diverse, and complex data sets dents, from high school through ing fields of phosphoinositide signaling pathways for regulation that encompass morphological PhD level, and he has taken mul- biochemistry and inositol phos- of the AM symbiosis have ush- and molecular traits. Dan is the tiple leadership roles in outreach phate signaling pathways; for her ered the field of fungal–plant in- head of the Chitwood Lab and an activities. He has been very active outstanding roles in education, teractions in new directions, and assistant member at the Danforth in scientific society activities, and mentorship, and international they provide opportunities for the Plant Science Center. The meth- he has organized many symposia outreach; and for her graceful and future manipulation of phosphate ods that he has developed will at several national and regional tireless work for the Society—in acquisition in crop species. Maria be broadly applied to questions meetings. For his significant con- Washington, D.C., and around has identified key gene products related to plant development and tributions at different stages of the world—promoting plant sci- required for phosphate transport beyond. his career, he has received many ence and encouraging people who and uptake, and she has shown awards from different organiza- are interested or involved in the that redirected plant protein se- Eric E. Conn Young tions. discipline. cretion mechanisms target trans- Investigator Award porters to symbiotic membranes. Joe Louis Excellence in Education Maria has also has developed Dennis R. Hoagland Award University of Nebraska–Lincoln Award cell biology resources for in vivo Maria Harrison Stanley Roux cellular imaging at Medicago, ex- Joe Louis, assistant professor of Cornell University University of Texas at Austin panding research capabilities for entomology at the University of In recognition of her outstanding further unraveling the nutritional Nebraska–Lincoln, is awarded the The 2015 Excellence in Education contributions to plant mineral function of the AM symbiosis. Eric E. Conn Young Investigator Award acknowledges the out- nutrition, ASPB honors Maria Award in recognition of his sig- standing contributions of Stanley Harrison with the Dennis R. Early Career Award nificant contributions to the field Roux, professor of molecular of plant–insect interactions, as cell and developmental biology Hoagland Award. Maria is the Daniel Chitwood William H. Crocker Professor well as his demonstrated excel- and University Distinguished Danforth Plant Science Center at Cornell University’s Boyce lence in outreach, public service, Teaching Professor at the Thompson Institute for Plant The ASPB Early Career Award mentoring, and teaching. Joe’s University of Texas at Austin. Research. She has pioneered acknowledges outstanding re- research work has shown that During a career spanning more studies of phosphate acquisi- search by a scientist generally not plants recognize specific insect- than 30 years, Stan has made a tion in arbuscular mycorrhizal more than seven years post-PhD. delivered elicitors that induce considerable impact at his institu- (AM) symbioses using the model This year’s Early Career Award innate defense mechanisms. His tion by expanding the curriculum legume Medicago truncatula. recipient is Daniel Chitwood, research has been published in while developing and adopting In particular, her findings that whom the Society recognizes for high-impact journals, garnering innovative pedagogical methods. 6  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 ing, and signaling in response to environmental cues and stress. Her groundbreaking “malate valve” hypothesis (operated by an NADP-dependent malate de- hydrogenase) is now a widely ac- cepted mechanism for controlling export of reducing equivalents from illuminated chloroplasts. Renate quickly followed this early work with her discovery of a contrasting system for malate transfer in the dark (this one NAD-dependent) that is essential Bob Goldberg Renate Scheibe Craig Pikaard for deriving ATP from plastidial glycolysis. These advances led her to focus on redox-dependent Both in the classroom and in his Development and head of the to make the documentary film processes in the cytoplasm, spe- laboratory, Stan has emphasized Pikaard Lab at Indiana University. History’s Harvest, and he often cifically those that affect the cyto- meaningful hands-on research for Craig is honored for his seminal speaks in public forums to pro- skeleton, the outer mitochondrial students. The recipient of several work and important discoveries mote science-based discussions membrane, and the nucleus. She past teaching awards, Stan was in the fields of nucleolar domi- about the utility and safety of remains concurrently active in one of the first to challenge the nance, gene silencing, and the genetically modified foods. Bob outreach, teaching, administra- notion that freshmen cannot con- role and function of the atypical has received several prizes for his tion, and service to national and duct “real” research. The results polymerases IV and V. Craig will excellent teaching at UCLA. international societies, and her of his efforts have been manifest convene the Martin Gibbs Medal efforts have immensely aided the in the form of peer-reviewed Symposium at Plant Biology 2016. Corresponding popularization of plants among publications with many student Membership Nominees students and the public. Renate coauthors, as well as conference has served as dean of the faculty Stephen Hales Prize Corresponding Member status is awards and further modeling of of biology and chemistry at the conferred by election on the an- this paradigm. Stan has offered Bob Goldberg University of Osnabrueck, di- innovative courses in the realm University of California, Los Angeles nual ballot. This honor, initially rector of the Botanical Garden given in 1932, provides life mem- of plant biology while mentoring Bob Goldberg is well known for (currently active on the board), bership and Society publications numerous undergraduate and his research contributions to plant national delegate and treasurer for to distinguished plant biologists graduate students and participat- biology, particularly in the area the Federation of the European outside the United States. ing in various science outreach of reproductive development. He Societies of Plant Biology, and organizations, thereby making member of the editorial board has generated fundamental dis- Renate Scheibe lasting impacts in the field. coveries that have also resulted in of Plant Physiology. Renate has University of Osnabrueck applications in industry, such as also engaged in numerous other Martin Gibbs Medal the development of the Barnase- Renate Scheibe is a leading con- ASPB activities since 1979. She continues to make impressive Craig Pikaard Barstar male sterility system, tributor to our understanding of redox regulation in plants, ex- contributions to our collective Indiana University together with PGS in Belgium. Bob later served as cofounder tending from metabolic control to outreach efforts, as well as to our The Martin Gibbs Medal, estab- and director of Ceres, Inc., a plant transportable reductant, to rapid knowledge of cellular energy me- lished in 1993, honors individuals biotechnology company. A major environmental responses by plant tabolism and the redox-poising who pioneered advances that have contribution to the community cells. As professor of biology at systems in plant cell compart- served to establish new directions was his role as the founding the University of Osnabrueck, she ments in response to environ- of investigation in the plant sci- editor-in-chief of The Plant Cell. has pioneered studies defining mental cues and stress. ences. The 2015 recipient, Craig Bob is a leader in educating the the impact of redox regulation Pikaard, is the Carlos O. Miller public about plant biotechnology. on enzymes central to inter- Professor of Plant Growth and He championed ASPB’s effort organelle communication, sens- continued on page 8 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  7 ASPB AWARDS continued from page 7 Kazuo Shinozaki RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Kazuo Shinozaki is director of the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science in Japan. He is recognized internationally for his pioneering work on signal transduction in stress responses and plant genome science. In 1986, he elucidated the first com- Caren Chang Keiko Torii plete nucleotide sequence of the Kazuo Shinozaki chloroplast genome (in tobacco). Later, as a pioneer of plant func- tional genomics, he collected discoveries to the molecular breed- and public service. Current mem- Keiko Torii full-length cDNAs, not only from ing of drought-tolerant plants. Two bers of ASPB who have contrib- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Arabidopsis, but also from vari- papers on this subject (DREB tran- uted to the Society for at least 10 and University of Washington, ous crop, tree, and weed species. scriptional factors and the cis ele- years are eligible for nomination. Seattle He has also provided valuable ment) are listed among the 10 most For the past 15 years, Keiko service in distributing these ge- Caren Chang frequently cited papers in The Plant has been studying the role of nomics resources from the RIKEN Cell. Kazuo and his colleagues have University of Maryland receptor-like kinases in plant de- BioResource Center. Kazuo’s main published 437 papers; he is among velopment and the mechanisms interest has been in the response Caren is well known for her pio- the most-cited plant scientists. He controlling stomata formation. of higher plants to abiotic stress, neering work in ethylene signal- has been an ASPB member since Her research on stomata forma- including gene expression, cellular ing, and she has continued to 1990 and has been invited many tion has greatly improved our signal transduction pathways, and contribute significantly in this area times to the ASPB annual meet- understanding of how plant in the molecular process of toler- by elucidating signaling mecha- ings. Kazuo has also been presi- cells coordinate proliferation ance using transgenic plants. He nisms and physical connections dent (2010–2011) of the Japanese and differentiation to generate and his wife, Kazuko Yamaguchi- Society of Plant Physiologists, and among the different players in the specific patterns during organ Shinozaki, have analyzed gene in this capacity he has contributed ethylene-signaling pathway. By morphogenesis. In addition to her expression networks that regulate to the Global Plant Council. helping to fill major long-standing research accomplishments, she stress responses and have identified gaps in the pathway, Caren’s work is a monitoring editor for Plant many important genes associated has provided new advances in Physiology and editor-in-chief with tolerance to various stresses. 2015 ASPB Fellow Awards our understanding of ethylene of The Arabidopsis Book (TAB). He has demonstrated the pres- Established in 2007 and granted perception and ethylene biology Keiko is also currently serving ence of both ABA-independent to no more than 0.2% of the cur- in general. In addition to her re- on the ASPB Early Career Award and ABA-dependent regulatory rent membership, the Fellow of Committee. systems governing drought- ASPB Award may be given in search contributions, Caren has inducible gene expression. He recognition of distinguished and also served ASPB and the plant Congratulations to all the 2015 also discovered the cis-acting and long-term contributions to plant biology community through her awardees, and many thanks to trans-acting regulatory elements biology and service to the Society work on the editorial boards of their nominators and the commit- DRE and DREB, which function in by current members in areas that several Society publications and as tees who evaluated nominees for ABA-independent gene expression. include research, education, men- a member of ASPB’s Publications each award. n Importantly, Kazuo applied these toring, outreach, and professional Committee.

8  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 ASPB’s 2015 Women’s Young Investigator Travel Award Winners Announced

ach year, ASPB and its Women in Plant Biology ECommittee award travel grants enabling early-career women investigators to attend the Plant Biology annual meeting. The Women’s Young Investigator Travel Award (WYITA) is a com- petitive program that aims to increase meeting attendance by fe- male investigators who are within the first five years of their appoint- ment in academic faculty-level Carla Antonio Anna Dobritsa Andrea Eveland Emily Indriolo positions, government research positions, or industry research sci- entist positions, as well as experi- enced postdocs. Selection is based on (1) the science and quality of the abstract submitted relative to the amount of time as an early- career investigator, (2) a statement describing why travel should be supported, and (3) financial need. Seven women were selected this year, and each will receive a $1,000 award to support her Aruna Kilaru Lucia Strader Sowmya Subramanian attendance at Plant Biology 2015 in Minneapolis. Several awardees Anna Dobritsa Emily Indriolo Lucia Strader will present a minisymposium Ohio State University, Columbus New Mexico State University, Las Washington University in talk. A list of the recipients and Cruces St. Louis, Missouri Aperture formation on their abstract titles follows. Arabidopsis pollen surface is reg- ARC1 is a downstream signal- Molecular basis for protein Congratulations to each of the ulated though a ploidy-dependent ing component of SRK in the interaction and the control of 2015 WYITA winners. mechanism and is guided by the self-incompatibility pathway auxin response repression. INP1 protein. in Arabidopsis spp. Carla Antonio (Minisymposium 13: Pollen) (Minisymposium 13: Pollen) Sowmya Subramanian Instituto Tecnologia Quimica New Mexico Consortium and Los Biologica (ITQB-UNL), Oeiras, Andrea Eveland Aruna Kilaru Alamos National Laboratory, Los Portugal Daniel Danforth Plant Science East Tennessee State University, Alamos Center, St. Louis, Missouri Johnson City Regulation of primary metabo- Engineering carbon concentra- lism in response to flooding stress Inflorescence architecture traits in Elucidation of endocannabi- tion mechanisms (CCM) in as revealed by stable isotope re- panicoid grasses: regulatory net- noid pathway in Physcomitrella C3 plants. (Minisymposium 7: distribution. works and comparative genomics. patens. Biochem: Bioenergy) n (Minisymposium 1: Abiotic: (Minisymposium 29: Transaction Water) Networks in Development) ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  9 ASPB’s New Meetings Business Unit Supports a Broader Plant Science Dialogue

SPB has set up a new meetings and events busi- Aness unit to support plant science researchers in ways that align closely with the Society’s vi- sion of a unified global plant sci- ence community. Historically, ASPB has supported scientific meetings other than the annual plant biol- ogy meeting whenever they arise. Beginning this year, though, ASPB will provide à la carte meet- Rick Amasino Sally Assmann Julia Bailey-Serres Siobhan Brady ing management services, as well as full service conference manage- ment. The Society will also launch a series of topical meetings, workshops, and satellite meetings following the annual meeting. An advisory board will provide the overall direction for the new business unit. Some of primary purposes of the board are to • provide guidance on the over- all direction of the meetings and events business Michael Metzlaff A.S.N. Reddy Rowan Sage Julian Schroeder • assist in identifying the com- munity’s most pressing needs for meeting management services The inaugural eight-member approach to meeting management • identify target meetings or po- board, which held its first meeting support, high-quality technology, tential customers on March 15 in Denver, Colorado, and well-informed scientific over- • assist in the development of includes representatives from both sight, ensuring that each meeting progressive and viable pricing academia and industry; all have delivers consistent value to the models served leadership roles within plant science community. ASPB’s • help identify emerging areas the plant science community. new unit will also be available to to consider for focused topical Members include Rick Amasino run events that are collocated but meetings (chair), Sally Assmann, Julia unaffiliated with other organiza- • assist in the evaluation and Bailey-Serres, Siobhan Brady, tions or meetings, such as satellite improvement of products and Michael Metzlaff, A.S.N. Reddy, meetings held in association with services Rowan Sage, and Julian Schroeder. international congresses. • help establish best practices to All of the new unit’s services For more details please contact serve the community will feature a personalized Jean Rosenberg ([email protected]). n

10  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Section News

Midwestern Section Holds Successful Meeting BY DARRON LUESSE Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

he Midwestern Section Center. Saturday was capped Plasma Membrane Localization of Best Graduate Student Poster of the ASPB held its an- off by the traditional banquet, the Receptor Kinase FLS2 Presentation awards were given to nual meeting on Saturday, where everyone relaxed after a T Second place First place, tie March 21, and Sunday, March long day. Xiaolong Lu Sarah Hutchinson 22, at the Donald Danforth Plant One highlight of the meeting Saint Louis University Science Center in St. Louis, was the presentation of student Southern Illinois University Missouri. More than 150 attend- awards. While all of the oral The Membrane-anchored Edwardsville ees from 37 institutions across the presentations and posters were Ubiquitin-​fold (MUB) Protein First place, tie Midwest were present for 32 oral very high quality, the section Family Regulates Ubiquitylation Nadeesha Rajapaksha presentations and over 70 posters. recognized those that stood out in Arabidopsis Saint Louis University The presentations were above their peers. Awards for Best Third place, tie primarily given by undergradu- Undergraduate Oral Presentation Tami Coursey Second place, tie ate and graduate students, but were given to Ohio State University Lingyan Jiang also included two talks from First place Putative Histone Readers EML1 University of Missouri–Columbia postdoctoral associates and one Dennis X. Zhu and EML3 Differentially Impact representative from industry. The Second place, tie University of Missouri–Columbia Geminivirus Infection keynote address was delivered by Tyler Dowd Characterization of Vegetative Scott Peck from the University of Third place, tie University of Missouri–Columbia Missouri–Columbia, who spoke and Reproductive Defects in the Enkhtuul Tsogtbaatar on Using Proteomics to Study Maize Tassel-less 4 Mutant Ohio State University Third place Signaling and Secretion During Second place Metabolic Characterization of Nicholas Heller Responses to Biotic and Abiotic Charles A. Cook Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) University of Illinois at Urbana– Stresses. Ohio University for the Production of Valuable Champaign The meeting also included a Fatty Acids featured talk from Sona Pandey Gene Expression Microarray Participants at the business from the Donald Danforth Plant of the GPS Treatment Reveals Awards were also given for meeting on Sunday determined Science Center. Susan Cato and Novel Genes Involved in Early poster presentations. The Best that the next meeting would likely Shoshana Kronfeld from ASPB Gravitropic Signal Transduction Undergraduate Poster winners be held in the western portion were on hand to deliver infor- Third place were given to of the section, possibly in South mation about new membership Spencer Schreier First place, tie Dakota, and organized by the initiatives and to solicit feedback ascending section chair, vice chair South Dakota State University Marissa Fabbri from members of the section. Aaron Wyman. Section chair Truman State University In addition to oral presenta- MicroRNA160 Regulation Darron Luesse closed the meet- of Auxin-Cytokinin Balance tions, the meeting offered several First place, tie ing on Sunday afternoon after During Soybean Root Nodule opportunities for informal scien- Jordyn Williams thanking everyone who made Development tific interactions and catching up Truman State University organizing the meeting possible, with friends. The poster session Awards for Best Graduate including Aaron and local orga- on Saturday afternoon was a Student Oral Presentation were Second place, tie nizer Dmitri Nusinow. We hope great chance to see examples given to Helen Liu everyone will join us again next of the cool science being done spring in South Dakota for anoth- First place University of Illinois at Urbana– across the section. Several coffee Champaign er great meeting. n breaks allowed participants to Carina Collins catch up with friends, and there University of Missouri–Columbia Second place, tie were tours of the impressive A Vesicular Trafficking ENTH- Roberto Alers-Velazquez Donald Danforth Plant Science domain Protein Functions in Ohio State University ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  11 Section News

SS-ASPB 2015 Meeting Report

he 2015 annual meeting Rick Turley organized the Kriton- into the right frame of mind Following breakfast on Sunday of the Southern Section Hatzios Symposium. Events were for the talks that began early on morning, Ashlee opened the T(SS-ASPB) was held at organized by Ken Korth and Sunday morning. The crew from meeting, and we started into a full the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, local organizers Tim Sherman, the University of South Alabama slate of talks. At mid-morning, we Alabama, at the edge of Mobile Kelly Major, and Molly Miller. (Tim, Kelly, and Molly) deserve a divided into concurrent sessions Bay, March 28–30. Over 130 plant A special thank-you goes out to huge thank-you from everyone, as to accommodate all speakers. biologists from 35 institutions all who helped with planning, they hauled and prepared copious Following oral presentations by enjoyed discussing plant science judging, presenting, stepping up amounts of food and drink. faculty and postdocs, graduate in a scenic and relaxing setting at as needed, and asking insightful Most of the meeting attendees student talks began and continued the Sea Lab. We fit a lot of science questions of the presenters. stayed on-site at the Sea Lab, and throughout the afternoon. Starting into the two-day meeting, with 61 participants filled all rooms in after lunch, small groups of under- poster presentations and 33 talks, About the Meeting… the 86-bed dormitory. We were graduate poster presenters met in addition to the Kriton-Hatzios fortunate that the meeting this Tim, Kelly, and Molly got the with judges to allow for adequate Symposium on incorporating year was very affordable, with time to interact. Students returned meeting off to a perfect start on total costs for students being $125 bioinformatics into plant biology. to their posters to further discuss The annual student competitions Saturday evening with a Gulf for meals, lodging at the dorm, their work in the general session were as strong as ever, with 22 Coast tradition, a shrimp and registration, and the banquet. along with all poster presenters graduate students competing for crawfish boil. Participants met Breakfasts and lunches were held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. awards with oral presentations under a beautiful sunny sky and at the cafeteria adjoining the Both the quality and quan- and 28 undergraduate poster dug into piles of spicy crusta- dorm. It was agreed that the food tity of work by all presenters competitors. Students made up ceans, vegetables, and sausage, was very good and that having impressed the judges and made two-thirds of the total number all washed down with beverages communal meals really helped to their decisions especially difficult. of attendees. The meeting was of their choice. The festive mood promote vigorous discussions and chaired by Ashlee McCaskill, and and excellent food put everyone networking among the scientists. continued on page 14

PRESIDENT’S LETTER move on to submitting elsewhere also permit making manuscripts In closing, if we as plant biolo- continued from page 4 after considering the reviewer publicly available any time prior gists can institute simple innova- comments. In addition to this to publication on preprint serv- tions as described above, then able for the given journal? (2) If simple solution, The Plant Cell is ers such as the bioRxiv at Cold we could lead the way for other the answer to (1) is yes, then what instituting additional new review Spring Harbor Laboratory, thus life scientists toward bringing the are the essential data that may measures that will help young enabling early access by the time to PhD, the time to complet- be needed to allow the authors investigators more rapidly move community, a practice spear- ing successful postdoctoral to publish their advance soon? from submission to publication, headed by the physics and math- research, and the time to publi- Needless to say, this approach enabling visibility of their new ematics communities. And Mike cation back to more reasonable may lead to a rapid decline of laboratories within the scientific Blatt and the editorial board of norms. We owe it to our disci- some highly worthy manuscripts. community (for those interested Plant Physiology have instituted pline to support young scientists, However, at least the dura- in more details, please see: http:// Research Reports—short papers not least because they are the ones tion of the response facilitates a bit.ly/1bVgpj1). The Plant Cell intended to accelerate the time who will ensure a strong future shorter and less arduous path to and Plant Physiology, along with from experimental concept to for plant biology. n publication, leading authors to Nature, Science, and PNAS, now final publication. 12  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Membership Corner

ASPB members share a common goal of promoting the growth, development, and outreach of plant biology as a pure and applied sci- ence. This column features some of the dedicated and innovative members of ASPB who believe that membership in our Society is cru- cial to the future of plant biology. If you are interested in contributing to this feature, please contact ASPB Membership at [email protected].

goal of “Once I’m successful (PI, and have a personal blog at Ian Street bigwig in industry, etc.), I can do postdocstreet.wordpress.com. I ______”. However, it’s impor- am also a runner and a hiker and tant along the way to do things always seem to be reading things. Professional Title: Research Associate you enjoy or want to do, too. Member Since: 2002 Don’t leave yourself out of your Do you still read print journals? Place of Work or School: Dartmouth College life plans. I still get a hard copy of Science I look at occasionally. And I do like Research Area: Root development, hormones, signaling What person, living or deceased, to print out individual articles so do you most admire? Why? I can doodle on them and make Keeping it within plant science and margin notes as I read. Digital the annual meeting, but I main- ASPB, Pam Ronald (@pcronald) solutions to writing on paper just tained my membership because I is a scientist I have enormous aren’t as satisfying. I love read- believe that the more members in respect for. She’s done good work, ing in coffee shops and libraries. the Society, the more influential running from basic science to It’s even better when it’s raining it can be. applying her work; done the hard outside. thing of correcting her published Why has being a member of What do you think is the most ASPB been important? work (and doing so openly); and is engaged in the discussion of important discovery in plant It’s given me something to get feeding the world. It’s an impres- biology over the past year and involved in, a place to contribute sive combination of what many why? to, and has helped me get my scientists hope for: curiosity-based I just read the Cutler and voice out into the world. research, applications deriving Volkman group’s paper in Nature from it, and public engagement on the modified ABA receptors How has being a member of beyond the university walls. that allow on-demand drought ASPB helped you in your career? tolerance (Park et al., 2015). That’s I’ve helped ASPB adopt social What are you reading these one of the important stories I’ve media at the annual meeting the days? run across recently. What would you tell colleagues past few years and have been Lots of plant science papers relat- to encourage them to join ASPB? What do you think is the next rewarded with so many great inter- ing to hormones, root develop- “big thing” in plant biology? Community matters. Being a actions because of it. (To anyone ment, and meristem function, part of an organization like ASPB reading this, I’m @IHStreet; come but I’ll talk about three books: It may be obvious, but with is part of that. Connecting with say hi.) It’s really helped me devel- The Signature of All Things (about high-throughput technologies colleagues, even in small ways, op my interests in terms of plant a 19th-century plant scien- (RNAseq, proteomics, etc.), more enhances your own experience in science and teaching, and it’s a tist), Game of Thrones, Book 5 different plants than ever can be the plant science world. privilege to get to know so many (not plant-science related, but experimented on and molecular talented and thoughtful scientists. weirwoods seem like a fascinat- data gained with less of require- Was someone instrumental in ing species), and Essentials of ments needed to develop tools getting you to join ASPB? What advice would you give to a Biomedical Writing. standard to model organisms My plant physiology professor plant scientist just starting out? like Arabidopsis (which is still at Willamette University, Gary Take care of yourself, too. It’s easy What are your hobbies? a valuable plant for research). These technologies also enhance Tallman, made me aware of the to get wrapped up in experiments, My biggest hobby is probably research possibilities at primarily Society. The reason I joined in data, doing things for colleagues, blogging: I write about plant grad school was partly to attend and working toward the end science at thequietbranches.com continued on page 14 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  13 People

Eric Hamilton Awarded ASPB/AAAS Mass Media Fellowship

ric Hamilton, from sation in the lab of Elizabeth garden events and presentations Washington University in Haswell, particularly the role on the biology behind domes- ESt. Louis (WUSTL), has mechanosensitive ion channels tication, gardening, and home been awarded the 2015 ASPB/ play in pollen’s response to stress. brewing. He is also an assistant AAAS Mass Media Science & He received a BS in biology and organizer for the Science on Tap Engineering Fellowship. He will a BA in chemistry from Case monthly science café series at a spend 10 weeks this summer Western Reserve University, where local brewery, which discusses training as a science journalist at he was drawn to the plant world WUSTL research with the public. Eric Hamilton the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in through his time with the univer- His research is supported by this opportunity to hone his skills Milwaukee, Wisconsin. sity’s produce program at its farm. the Monsanto Excellence Fund in this field through the ASPB/ Eric is a PhD candidate in the In graduate school, Eric has Fellowship. AAAS Fellowship. He thanks Plant and Microbial Biosciences focused on bringing the plant Eric plans to pursue a career ASPB for the support and is eager program at WUSTL, where he science and urban gardening in science communication after to report back after a summer of researches plant mechanosen- communities together through graduating and is thrilled to have science reporting. n

SS-ASPB MEETING REPORT “Incorporating Bioinformatics MEMBERSHIP CORNER blog, become part of the ASPB continued from page 12 into Plant Biology Research.” continued from page 13 Digital Futures User Group, and Our first speaker was Meg have gotten new ideas for my Thanks to the judges, who all Staton from the University of undergraduate institutions, own research. And I have hope worked very hard and were an Tennessee, who spoke about her since the data generated only that continued networking will asset to the student competitors research using bioinformatics require computing power for lead to my next job, too. and their mentors. The judges for American chestnut restora- analysis and a lot of the method this year were Caryl Chlan, Nihal tion. Next, Joshua Udall from is outsourced. It’s a good way to What do you see as the most Dharmasiri, Becca Dickstein, Brigham Young University engage undergrads in research. important role for scientific Steve Grace, Nathan Hancock, discussed genome evolution of societies such as ASPB? Beth Hood, Mautusi Mitra, allotetraploid cotton. Finally, What do you still have to learn? Ideally, a society creates an Mustafa Morsy, Shane Sanders, Shane Sanders from Mississippi So many things. umbrella to spark new ideas and Jay Shockey, Meg Staton, and Rick State University presented on collaborations and to get more Turley. genome assembly and analysis. Have you enhanced your career (plant) science done and fund- The Kriton-Hatzios The general business meet- using ASPB job postings or ed. Societies are also key for Symposium was held on Sunday ing completed the weekend through networking at an ASPB getting the content generated by morning. The topic this year was events. n function? scientists out to the world, or at Yes, I certainly have. Through least being a platform to get the networking and Twitter, I’ve message out even further than it been a guest author for the ASPB might otherwise go. n

14  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Science Policy

Policy Update BY LAUREN BROCCOLI Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC

House and Senate Pass House Appropriations budget request for each agency of the House Committee on Budget Resolutions Subcommittee on Agri- and highlighted a wide range of Science, Space, and Technology, In March, the House and Senate culture Holds Hearing on USDA research priorities. and Representative James adopted their own versions of the FY2016 USDA Research While much of the question- Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin) fiscal year 2016 budget resolution Budgets and-answer portion of the hear- introduced the Engineering Biology Research and that establishes a budget blue- On March 24, plant science– ing focused on concerns about Development Act of 2015. print for the government. Both related issues were among the animal research at a specific U.S. The legislation would create a chambers then moved to con- topics addressed during a hearing Meat Animal Research Center National Engineering Biology ference their respective budget held by the House Appropriations in Nebraska, members of the subcommittee also highlighted Research and Development resolutions into one final package Subcommittee on Agriculture, issues of interest to plant biolo- Program to oversee federal by a target deadline of April 15. Rural Development, Food and gists. In response to a question research and development in While the budget resolution is Drug Administration, and from Representative Kevin engineering biology. In addi- nonbinding and does not have Related Agencies to consider Yoder (R-Kansas), Ramaswamy tion, the bill would develop a the force of law, it does set bind- FY2016 budget proposals for mentioned NIFA’s support for framework for coordinating ing top-line spending caps for the U.S. Department of Agriculture new discoveries in plant genetics, federal investments in engineer- House and Senate Appropriations (USDA) research agencies. including investments in research ing biology, develop a national Committees for FY2016. In seek- Witnesses included to develop drought-tolerant crops. strategy, increase public–private ing to balance the budget within • Catherine Woteki, undersecre- Subcommittee Ranking Member partnerships, bolster education the next 10 years, both the House tary for Research, Education, Sam Farr (D-California) voiced and training efforts for future and Senate resolutions currently and Economics, USDA concern about the Agriculture and engineering biology research- commit to adhering to the budget • Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI’s) ers, and “address any potential caps set in the Budget Control Act administrator, Agricultural low success rates and urged agency ethical, legal, environmental, and of 2011, which would mean sig- Research Service (ARS) officials to look at research on the societal issues associated with nificant budget cuts over the next • Sonny Ramaswamy, director, whole, rather than in silos. Woteki engineering biology research.” few years. National Institute of Food and agreed with Farr, highlighting The bill has been referred to the The House resolution praises Agriculture (NIFA) plant genetics and genomics, as House Committee on Science, the work of science agencies, but • Mary Bohman, administrator, well as the new antimicrobial Space, and Technology, where it it does not provide additional Economic Research Service resistance initiative, as examples has not yet been considered. funding. Unlike the House resolu- • Joe Reilly, administrator, of activities undertaken through a Sources and Additional National Agriculture Statistics tion, which would support basic departmentwide approach. Information research and cut applied research Service programs, the Senate resolution • Mike Young, director, USDA Sources and Additional • The full text of the Engineering Information prioritizes applied research such as Office of Budget and Policy Biology Research and energy research and development Analysis • Information about the hear- Development Act of 2015 is available at http://1.usa. for renewable forms of energy. In his opening remarks, ing is available at http://1.usa. gov/161cu25. A conference agreement would Subcommittee Chairman Robert gov/1DmYObd. • A press release announcing serve as a statement of House Aderholt (R-Alabama) noted the introduction of the bill and Senate Republican priori- the “very constrained fund- Bipartisan Engineering is available at http://1.usa. ties, but action would end there, ing environment” in which the Biology Legislation Intro- gov/1yQ7vbR. as the budget resolution triggers Appropriations Committee duced in the House authority for the Appropriations is operating during FY2016. On January 29, Representative Committees to determine FY2016 The testimony of the witnesses Eddie Bernice Johnson appropriations bills. outlined the president’s FY2016 (D-Texas), ranking member continued on page 16 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  15 Science Policy

POLICY UPDATE Initiative (AFRI), including Agriculture, Natural Resources, ria, responding to a provision in continued from page 15 solicitations on Food Security, and Human Sciences Education the 2014 Farm Bill and building Childhood Obesity Prevention, and Literacy Initiative” (previ- USDA NIFA Releases off of July 2014 NIFA stakeholder Water for Agriculture, Climate ously the “Fellowship Grants”), listening sessions. FY2015 AFRI RFAs Variability and Change, Food which will accept proposals to Sources and Additional In February, the USDA NIFA Safety, and the Foundational support undergraduates, gradu- Information released a series of Requests for Program. As reported in ate students, and postdocs. Each Applications (RFA) through the December, AFRI announced an solicitation also contains details The RFAs can be accessed at Agriculture and Food Research RFA for the newly titled “Food, about Centers of Excellence crite- http://1.usa.gov/1b4Rjy1. n

Deadline for Submission Call for Papers Extended!

Focus Issue on Metabolism

Deadline for Submission: July 8, 2015 To submit an article, please go to http://pphys.msubmit.net/

Advances in next-generation sequencing, gene and genome engineering, and sampling have had an immense impact on our understanding of metabolism. This Focus Issue on Metabolism will address these advances including, but not limited to, state-of-the-art approaches in the study of plant metabolic pathways and interactions from the molecule to the whole-plant level, and the evolution of these processes. Special attention will be paid to emerging technologies and advances that promise to accelerate our understanding of metabolism, its control, the signals that regulate metabo- lism, its integration within organismal signaling and response in the face of biotic and abiotic stress, its contributions to plant structure, function, and its diversity and importance within modern society.

Authors interested in contributing should indicate this in the cover letter when submitting papers online at http://pphys. msubmit.net/. Please select “Metabolism (October 2015)” from the Focus Issue list in the online submission system. Articles published in Plant Physiology on this topic within 2 years before and after the Focus Issue publication date will be collected in an online Focus Collection on Metabolism.

Please contact Alisdair Fernie ([email protected]) or Eran Pichersky ([email protected]) for more information.

16  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Science Policy

Science Policy Committee Meets in Washington, D.C. BY TYRONE SPADY ASPB Legislative and Public Affairs Director

n March 16, 2015, the ing crop production sustainably ASPB Science Policy in a changing environment, OCommittee met in training the next generation of Washington, D.C., when the fiscal scientists and engineers to lead year 2016 appropriations process the 21st-century global economy, was under way. We met with and improving science education. members of Congress to discuss These investments also will help the importance of sustained an- drive future economic success nual investment in the federal and job growth. agencies that support plant science research, as well as the importance National Science Jane Silverthorne, deputy assistant director for the NSF Directorate of of plant science to the economic Foundation (NSF) Biological Sciences, provides an update on agency activities to the ASPB well-being of those members’ ASPB supports the requested Science Policy Committee. states and districts. We pointed level of $7.724 billion for NSF out that plant biology provides the in FY2016 and encourages the foundation for advancement in greatest possible support for the agriculture and the bio-economy, Department of Agriculture Florida. Within most congres- Directorate of Biological Sciences mitigation of the impacts of cli- ASPB supports the FY2016 re- sional offices, our funding recom- (BIO). This includes the Plant mate change, and development quested level of $450 million for mendations were well received. Genome Research Program of new medicinal compounds the Agriculture and Food Research Our meetings also included (PGRP), which not only furthers involved in the treatment and pre- Initiative (AFRI), which admin- the House Science Committee fundamental knowledge, but also vention of diseases (see Decadal isters competitive funding for and Senate Appropriations enables us to enhance agricultural Vision, http://bit.ly/1kNedsW). innovative research on issues such (Commerce, Justice, and Science productivity, grow nutritious ASPB calls for sustained fund- as food security, global health, Appropriations Subcommittee) foods, and diminish the effects ing growth at federal agencies, and renewable energy. ASPB also and Foreign Relations and of devastating plant parasites. which will allow researchers supports the FY2016 requested Commerce Committees. Sustained funding growth over to work toward revolutionary level of $1.398 billion for the Prior to the congressional breakthroughs, such as produc- multiple years for PGRP will be Agricultural Research Service. visits, ASPB’s Science Policy ing nutritious foods, sustainable critical to address many chal- Committee received agency energy, new medicines, and medi- lenges of the 21st century. National Institutes of updates from representatives cal treatments; protecting our Health of several important funding Department of Energy’s environment; and advancing our ASPB supports sustained funding organizations. Among them fundamental understanding of Office of Science growth for NIH and advocates were Jane Silverthorne, deputy plant biology. ASPB supports the requested level for increased support for plant assistant director for the NSF Directorate of Biological Sciences; ASPB recognizes the tight of $5.34 billion for DOE’s Office science research within NIH’s Parag Chitnis, deputy director fiscal environment facing the of Science in FY2016. ASPB sup- Centers and Institutes to help for the USDA Institute of Food United States and appreci- ports the FY2016 request for the fight disease and obesity. Production and Sustainability; ates congressional support for Office of Basic Energy Sciences As part of our Congressional and Joe Cornelius, program federal research agencies. Robust at $1.849 billion and the Office Visit Day, ASPB held 31 director for the DOE Advanced investments in the agencies and of Biological and Environmental congressional meetings with Research Projects Agency– programs detailed below are vital Research at $612.4 million. These offices representing Iowa, Energy. n to ensuring the nation’s ability to offices support dynamic research North Carolina, New York, meet critical challenges: attaining at the interface of plant biology Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, energy independence, increas- and other scientific disciplines. Mississippi, California, and ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  17 Education Forum

ASPB at the 2015 White House Easter Egg Roll 137th year (est. 1878)

At least 1 family from Five Healthy Habits! each of the 50 states

10 amazing 10 awesome morning volunteers! afternoon volunteers!

visitors made an ASPB garden cup necklace 5th anniversay of 1 of 14 special the First Lady’s activity partners Let’s Move Initiative

www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll 18  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Education Forum

Thanks for Hopping to It, ASPB Volunteers! Daniel Czerny, Rachel Binder, Ryan Binder, Justin Kuan, Matthew Yu, Hemayet Ullah, Stacey Slijepcevic, Burkhard Schulz, Rosanne Alstatt, Liesel Alstatt, George Ude, Assumpta Ude, Janet Slovin, Caitie Hanlon, and Molly Hanlon. Molly also blogged about the day. See http://bit.ly/1ycbGUq. And ASPB staff: Melanie Binder, Stephanie Liu-Kuan, and Kim Kimnach

ASPB Outreach Veteran Janet Slovin Shares Some South Lawn Science Savvy: “I tried to get the kids to think about where plants come from. I had them shake the seeds into their hand, then put them in the soil in their cup. So many of them were surprised at how small the seeds were, and that the lettuce seed looked different than the carrot seed.

“With the older kids, I asked them where the carrot seeds came from, or what part of the lettuce had seeds.…This usually stumped them, so I had a good chance to talk about where seeds come from in general. No one thought about carrots and lettuce having flowers.

“I also talked about whether we eat seeds or not. Lots of kids had been exposed to pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, and one kid knew about popcorn, but everyone was surprised that flour comes from the wheat seed. Having seeds in their hands allowed me to go in many different directions, even though we had very limited time with each kid.” Photos by Melanie Binder. ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  19 Education Forum

Advice from a Postdoc Take Advantage of Mentoring Opportunities with the PlantingScience Online Mentoring Program BY DAWN NAGEL University of Southern California

ne aspect of my research science career. For the mentor, training and career this opportunity provides a basic Odevelopment that I am foundation that can be integrated very passionate about is the op- into the broader impacts section portunity to mentor students. of your research grants, and, more As such, I am always looking for important, a chance to develop opportunities to get involved with relationships with these students students at earlier stages in their and teachers that can lead to education. So when I discovered further collaboration. PlantingScience.org, an online The benefits and rewards are mentoring resource that was ad- obvious to me, and once they hear vertised on the ASPB website, my about the program, many of my first reaction was, “This is awe- colleagues are very interested and some, why haven’t I heard about eager to participate. So I strongly this before?” encourage graduate students, The major appeal for me was postdocs, and faculty members the minimal and flexible time to explore this amazing opportu- commitment, which allows you nity, spread the word, and offer to make an impact even with a ways to further contribute to this busy schedule, and the opportu- program. nity to work with a diversity of Interested in becoming a Photo by Naomi Volain. students at a middle- and high- PlantingScience mentor? Check school academic level. You are out www.plantingscience.org/ expected to communicate with newmentor to learn more and your assigned group of students enriching experience for me. For an excellent job of posting images register. The next session will about two or three times a week. example, I had the opportunity of the experiments and results at begin in mid-September. See what Since it is an online forum, you to mentor an amazing group the end of the session. projects the student teams are can post suggestions and recom- of students from a secondary Overall, I feel that it was a working on this spring by brows- mendations to your group from school in the Netherlands. I was fulfilling experience for me as ing the research gallery (http://bit. any mobile device, perhaps when impressed by their commitment well as the students. Participating ly/1Hn3nFg). n you are on the bus or waiting to to the project and by how well the in these types of mentoring activi- be seated at a restaurant. experiments were designed and ties contributes to the students’ The fact that the student performed. In addition, you are understanding of basic plant groups are diverse both academi- able to see the conclusions of the biology principles and may cally and culturally provides an projects, because the students do foster a new interest in a plant

20  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Education Forum

A Children’s Workshop: Rooting Around the World of Plants 200 Bilingual Primary School Students Explore Plant Life Cycles and Root Grafting BY CRISTINA SORIANO CEBAS–CSIC - Campus Universitario de Espinardo

OOTOPOWER (http:// www.ROOTOPOWER.eu) Ris innovating rootscience research in Europe, gathering top research scientists from a wide array of root-related fields. This Knowledge Based Bio-Economy project, funded under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Union (grant number 289365), comprises 13 partners from Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Turkey. ROOTOPOWER aims to develop new tools, targeted to roots, to enhance agronomic stability and sustainability of dicotyledonous crops under multiple and combined stress CEBAS-CSIC team members conditions. The project focuses responsible for organizing and on the tomato as a model species, teaching this workshop, March 26, since its genome sequence is 2015, Murcia, Spain. Photo © by already available and it can be M. A. Muñoz. very easily grafted. This surgical technique attaches histologically selected mutants and functional shoot systems and root systems lines (used as rootstocks) for that are genetically different; the their performance under multiple method allows researchers to abiotic stresses and for their Grafting tomato plants with students from the bilingual primary precisely assess how altering the biotic interaction with natural soil school Maristas, March 26, 2015, Murcia, Spain. Photo © by M. A. root genotype affects the grafted microorganisms (mycorrhiza and Muñoz. variety’s crop performance. This rhizobacteria). ROOTOPOWER project will analyze and exploit will obtain genetic information pated duration of four years, the predicted impacts of climate the natural genetic variability and physiological understanding ROOTOPOWER seeks to change and to reduce the soil existing in a recombinant inbred of mechanisms vital for high- improve crop stress resistance and degradation and natural resource line population (RIL) from a cross performing root systems. develop more resource-efficient depletion that result from unsus- between Solanum lycopersicum With an initial budget of crops. This strategy aims to help tainable agricultural practices. and S. pimpinellifolium and other about €3 million and antici- producers and breeders deal with continued on page 22 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  21 Education Forum

ROOTOPOWER roots of different species cultivat- continued from page 21 ed hydroponically, plants subject to different stresses (salt stress, As part of its dissemination light stress, and control condi- plan, CEBAS-CSIC (Murcia, tions), and blue tomato plants. Spain), the project’s coordinat- The workshop was very ing partner, recently organized a successful, and the participants one-day workshop geared toward enthusiastically collaborated in the broad academic public, the activities. Because the chil- particularly the students attend- dren were bilingual in English ing Maristas, a bilingual primary and Spanish, the workshop school in Murcia. With this activ- was taught mainly in English, ity, ROOTOPOWER partners enabling CEBAS-CSIC to rein- intend to provide a better under- force their language skills in standing of root-targeted strate- English while teaching science in gies to minimize abiotic stress a fun way. The workshop design- impacts on horticultural crops Students from Maristas participating in the workshop, March 26, 2015, ers drew on the educational mate- and to increase the education of Murcia, Spain. Photo © by M. A. Muñoz. rials and resources available at the the general public and schoolchil- ASPB K–12 Resources webpage, dren on the field. and the students received differ- Early education needs to be ent ASPB bookmarks. n creative and adaptive in order functions of plants; photosyn- focused on showing children to motivate children and keep thesis; and the role of scientists. how to graft tomato plants. The their attention. With this aim, This presentation included a students viewed an educational CEBAS-CSIC developed a time-lapse video showing the video recorded by CEBAS-CSIC, program combining both theo- difference in scion growth of two followed by the in situ grafting retical knowledge and practical grafted plants. In order to high- of plants. The approximately applications. The first half of the light the importance of roots and 200 children participating in the workshop included a presenta- the use of grafting as the primary workshop were divided into small tion titled “The World of Plants,” rootstock-evaluation method, groups to promote direct partici- covering the life cycle, parts, and the second half of the workshop pation as they learned about the

22  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Education Forum

ASPB at NSTA 2015 Reaching Out to Promote Plants in the Science Classroom BY ANDREW MANNING University of Chicago

pring has sprung, and Suzanne Cunningham explains her teachers and administra- sugar module to Jean Greenberg and Stors were out in force at another visiting instructor. Photo by the National Science Teachers Andrew Manning. Association (NSTA) national conference. From March 11 through 14 in Chicago, thou- sands of instructors made their Scott Woody’s FPsc plants on display at way through a vast exhibition the NSTA National Conference. Photo hall to seek out resources and by Suzanne Cunningham. advice on how to improve their science education methods. To reach out and promote the im- portance of considering plants in the science classroom, ASPB once again hosted an Education and Outreach booth during this event. Highlights of the various activities and resources made available to booth visitors were the outstanding and eye-catching experiments from Scott Woody of the University of Wisconsin– A student examines a starch module on display Madison (http://www.fpsc.wisc. at the ASPB booth. The hands-on activities edu). These included several were a hit with the kids and adults alike! experiments highlighting reces- Photo by Suzanne Cunningham. sive or dominant genetic traits, as well as The Mating Game, a great way to playfully engage students their beverage choices. Visitors ing of 3-D tomogram reconstruc- (NGSS) was also a hit, delivering in understanding the genetic engaged in Suzanne’s module by tions of plant-root tips in the different ways to communicate principles of inheritance and the unspooling the five or more feet process of dividing. Participants biological principles through the differences between genotype and of sugar packets that could be explored some of the completed use of plant biology. One of the phenotype. found in some 24-ounce bottles of models to see how they could be more popular handouts was a Many people stopped by soda, comparing this to the much integrated into the teaching of plant fact sheet. It was increas- the booth to see Suzanne more minimal sugar content of science concepts. ingly apparent that we all do not Cunningham of Purdue some juices. Participants found The ASPB booth also offered recognize plants enough for their University present her module the exercise inspiring and a great teachers a wide array of ways contributions to the planet and on using plants to teach nutri- hands-on tool to teach students to engage students with various all the modern-day amenities that tion. Part of Suzanne’s module about sugar intake. experiments highlighting the 12 we have. used several different everyday Joe Austin of the University of Principles of Plant Biology. The As usual, there can never be drinks to illustrate the amounts of Chicago brought tools and images integrated approach with the Next enough of the My Life as a Plant sugar that children consume with for teachers to do a little model- Generation Scientific Standards continued on page 25 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  23 Recognizing Our Authors 2009–2013

At ASPB, we are privileged to publish the work of a range of authors whose scientific experience and academic leadership have helped es- tablish our journals, Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell, as highly re- spected sources of knowledge for the advancement of plant science.

In 2009, we analyzed citations to our journals for papers published be- tween 2004 and 2008 to identify our authors from around the world publishing the most influential science. Now, in 2015, we are pleased to once again thank our authors for their role in the ongoing success of Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell and invite you to celebrate them with us. This new edition of Recognizing Our Authors acknowledges authors of our most highly cited papers published between 2009 and 2013. We've begun with researchers working in North America and Europe. Soon we will add plant biologists from Asia, Australasia, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Africa. We are grate- ful to them, just as we are grateful to all our authors, for making Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell what they are today.

Interested in submitting your best work to Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell? Please see our Instructions for Authors for both The Plant Cell (http://www.plantcell.org/misc/ifora.shtml) and Plant Physiology (http:// www.plantphysiol.org/misc/ifora.shtml).

Read more by downloading the online PDF at http://bit.ly/1H1QAvy

24  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Education Forum

NSTA 2015 of the teachers who stopped by the plant biology community to Joyce Ache Gana, Devi Potluri, continued from page 23 marveled at Scott’s tabletop light- design fun and easy experiments and Fred Ruddat ing structure for plant growth. with these new resources and Chicago State University activity books. Many instructors, Although Scott is an admitted then reach out and get involved in both classroom teachers and even Suzanne Cunningham carpenter hobbyist, the essen- the growing interest in plant biol- some forest rangers, found these a Purdue University tial parts and pieces for such a ogy and ecology. great way to reach out to a young growth apparatus are relatively Finally, on behalf of ASPB Scott Woody audience and engage them with easy for teachers to obtain and and its many members who care University of Wisconsin–Madison a variety of games and exercises put together. Additionally, there about public outreach, I want to Everyone traveled from vari- intent on teaching basic plant prin- are a growing number of teachers acknowledge all the volunteers ous nearby institutions to reach ciples. Many people who saw the with garden plots at their schools. who helped make the ASPB booth out and raise enthusiasm and books were even more impressed These teachers are looking for a such a success for us as collabora- support for the use of plants in with the wide array of languages way not only to teach the basics tors and, of course, for the many the classroom. The marvelous that they come in, delivering the of sowing seeds through plant science educators with whom we thing about each volunteer was interesting biology of plants to a development, but also to have interacted. A big thanks to the differences that each could much broader audience. See http:// space to conduct other outdoor Joe Austin, Jean Greenberg, bring to reaching out to the www.aspb.org/coloringbook for plant-based experiments. As the Joanna Jelenska, and Jiyoung Lee teachers, offering unique advice available translations. idea of community gardens and University of Chicago and suggestions for engaging Engaging with teachers and active learning catches on, and young audiences in the diverse administrators also alerted me to as schools put more effort into Louise Anderson and Katherine and awe-inspiring world of plant several issues that we may be able incorporating these gardens into Warpeha biology. n to help with in the future. Many lessons, it would be great for University of Illinois, Chicago

Plant Explorations for Youngsters Now available in Italian!

Thanks to Emanuela Pedrazzini, these two classic primary grade outreach worksheets from ASPB are available in Italian. Beyond her regular research agenda at the Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology in Italy, Emanuela conducts out- reach events in her community. As part of this work, she has translated these basic worksheets to help introduce youngsters to the fascinating world of plants by using items they are familiar with and rely on every day.

Piante nascoste Quante piante http://bit.ly/1DrzkPh in un hamburger (http://bit.ly/1FlUyM2) Plants are everywhere and are im- portant to people in many ways! Hamburger: Find out just how many Use this form to take a treasure plants you eat with your hunt of plants around your house. hamburger.

ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  25 Education Forum

SURF 2015: A New Wave of Undergraduate Research Coming this Summer BY KATIE ENGEN ASPB Education Coordinator

ecipients of the ASPB an ASPB member. SURF committee makes awards in 2015 SURFers will present their Summer Undergraduate Program participation is proportion to the number of appli- research at the undergraduate and RResearch Fellowship worldwide and represents diverse cations received from each group. general poster sessions during (SURF; http://surf.aspb.org) re- interests. Proposals from under- This year’s 15 awards went to 10 Plant Biology 2016 in Austin, ceive support to conduct 10 con- graduates at doctoral-granting and applicants from universities that Texas. secutive weeks of plant biology primarily undergraduate institu- grant PhDs and five from primar- Congratulations to these 2015 research under the mentorship of tions are reviewed separately. The ily undergraduate institutions. The SURFers!

Group A Research and Doctoral Universities

Kevin Bird Allison Butt Hailey Cambra Maxwell Choka

Kevin Bird, University of Allison Butt, Worcester Polytech- Hailey Cambra, Worcester Poly- Maxwell Choka, Queen’s Uni- Missouri nic Institute technic Institute versity Mentor: Michael Gore, Cornell Mentor: Luis Vidali Mentor: Pamela Weathers Mentor: William Plaxton University Project: Analysis of the function of Project: Artemisinin biosynthesis: Project: Functional-genomic Project: Building the genetic conditional loss-of-growth 1 gene Do roots affect epigenetic changes analysis of a “curculin-like lectin” foundation for biofortification in in Physcomitrella patens protone- in leaves? in Arabidopsis phosphate acquisi- Brassica rapa mal cell development tion This SURF grant allows me to This award allows me to both The ASPB SURF grant has given pursue my research interests in I am extremely grateful for the broaden my research experience me the ability to have professional elucidating metabolic regulation opportunity to be involved with by working at a new institution lab experience and work with in plants. I plan to apply to a PhD plant science research this sum- and to share my research with a a project that is pivotal to plant program following my gradua- mer in the Plaxton lab. Receiving new network of scientists at the biology. The opportunity to work tion from Worcester Polytechnic the SURF grant will not only ASPB 2016 meeting. in a lab during the summer of my Institute, and I hope to focus my allow me to develop research junior year will allow me to pur- thesis on metabolic engineering skills useful for my undergraduate sue my goal of going on to gradu- of photosynthetic organisms to career and beyond, but also give ate school to attain a doctorate find solutions to issues of global me the chance to make a valu- within the field of biology. concern, such as health and able contribution to the scientific renewable energy. community. 26  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Education Forum

Clayton Dilks Ronald Fox Josephine Lee Abigail Miller

Clayton Dilks, University of Josephine Lee, Washington Uni- Illinois at Urbana–Champaign versity in St. Louis Mentor: Amy Marshall-Colon Mentor: Elizabeth Haswell Project: Changes in heat and Project: Do plastids and mito- nitrogen stress signaling path- chondria communicate through ways throughout development of redox state to control plant devel- Arabidopsis opment? The ASPB SURF award will allow The breadth of exposure that the me to focus solely on my sum- ASPB SURF award provides me mer research by funding me to will help me discover my specific cover some living expenses and interests in plant biology and the equipment that I will need to develop a career in plant biology complete my research project. It research. will further help me achieve my Elizabeth Sarkel Dennis Zhu goal of pursuing a PhD in systems Abigail Miller, Michigan State biology with a focus in plant University biology by giving me the means Mentor: Pengxiang Fan Project: Variation in the Acylsu- Elizabeth Sarkel, Wake Forest Dennis Zhu, University of to start an independent research University Missouri–Columbia project and to gain invaluable crose biosynthesis pathway in wild tomato species Mentor: Gloria Muday Mentor: Paula McSteen experience in the field. Project: Investigating the role of Project: Characterization of veg- Ronald Fox, The Ohio State I am grateful to be a recipient of reactive oxygen species in root etative and reproductive defects in University the ASPB Summer Undergradu- gravity response the maize tassel-less 4 mutant Mentor: Anna Dobritsa ate Research Fellowship because it allows me to continue pursuing Applying for and receiving the After my undergraduate career, Project: The creation of organelle SURF grant has given me a my goal is to continue plant sci- markers for characterizing proteins my research on the Acylsucrose Acyltransferase enzyme in tomato valuable opportunity to pre- ence research in graduate school involved in exine formation in pare, complete, and present a and eventually work as a research Arabidopsis plants. I am looking forward to another summer filled with in- research project this summer. scientist. Working with my men- The SURF award will give me tensive research and learning new This will be an excellent start to tor to write a proposal for the the opportunity to productively biochemical techniques to analyze my undergraduate research and ASPB SURF taught me the chal- work on my project without the enzyme structure and function. will give me a great foundation lenges of science writing and also distraction of classes. It will give This fellowship will help me for continuing my undergradu- gave me experience in indepen- me experience that will enhance immensely in pursuing a future ate research and preparation for dently planning experiments. my career as a scientist. graduate career in biochemistry. graduate studies. continued on page 28 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  27 Education Forum

LeMar Callaway III Sienna Lopez Karina Morales Maria Sorkin

SURF 2015 pendent research setting. I feel my summer project, which I hope continued from page 27 very blessed and honored to have will offer a meaningful contribu- this opportunity, which I likely tion to plant biology research at Group B wouldn’t have had without the Kenyon and to the larger plant Primarily Undergraduate SURF grant. Thanks again! research community. This fellow- Institutions ship will help set the stage for my Karina Morales, Azusa Pacific senior honors thesis and for my University LeMar Callaway III, Virginia continued involvement in applied Mentor: Charles Chen plant research beyond Kenyon. Wesleyan College Project: Projecting food sustain- Mentor: Eric Johnson ability: Identifying varietal dif- Melissa Traver, Centenary Project: Aribinogalactan proteins, ferences in the gas exchange and College of Louisiana calcium ion signaling, and their nitrogen distribution of two rice Mentor: Rebecca L. Murphy role in plant development cultivars grown under increased Project: Making the switch: Melissa Traver Applying for this grant has given [CO2] and air temperature The role of protein interactions me exposure to the research CONSTANS-mediated floral ini- As I look toward my future, I tiation in sorghum process, as well as some of the im- plan to pursue a PhD in plant portant considerations involved physiology and to use this degree Receiving the ASPB SURF grant in deciding an important question to teach and research the impact will allow me to pursue my goal to research. Receiving this grant of climate change on major food of earning a PhD in the biological has given me the opportunity to crops. By participating in this sciences and give me the opportu- have a productive summer, in SURF project, I am given the nity to perform intensive summer which I can delve deeper into an opportunity to receive hands-on research. Without this grant, I interesting and specified area of experience in the field of research would not have this incredible op- plant biology. I envision myself participating in portunity. as a future career. Sienna Lopez, Spring Arbor Honorable Mention University Maria Sorkin, Kenyon College Mentor: Aaron Wyman Mentor: Karen Hicks Jennifer Olins, University of Project: Exploring genes and their Project: An evolutionary assess- Massachusetts Amherst products for novel impacts on plant ment of how seasonal cues regulate growth and development reproductive development using the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens With the SURF award, I’ll be able to apply and advance the I am incredibly excited to put knowledge I’ve gained through my funds from the ASPB SURF my courses and labs in an inde- grant toward the completion of 28  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Obituary

Albert W. Frenkel 1919–2015 BY GOVINDJEE AND SUSANNA FRENKEL

lbert Frenkel was the he worked for the U.S. Atomic fourth and youngest child Energy Commission. Aof Selma (Baerwald) and In 1947, Al was hired as Arthur Frenkel. He was born an assistant professor in the during the Spartacist rebellion, Department of Botany at the and the attending doctor had to University of Minnesota, and be guaranteed his safety after Al’s in 1948 he met his wife, Goldie birth. Al was raised in an upper- (Schwartz); they were married in class environment, with visits to Grand Forks, North Dakota. the huge house of his grandfather Al was a member of the Hermann Frenkel—next door University of Minnesota faculty to the family house of one of the until retiring as a professor of fathers of rocket science, Werner botany and plant physiology in von Braun. From Germany, the 1988. He served as chair of the family moved to Switzerland in Botany Department from 1971 to the 1920s to escape the rise of the 1975. The Albert Frenkel Reading Nazis. Al began collecting wild- A photograph of Albert Frenkel Albert Frenkel at the University of Room in the Biological Sciences flowers in Switzerland and press- in Berlin. Source: Archives of the Minnesota. Source: Archives of the Building was named in recogni- ing them; this collection is now Frenkel family. Frenkel family. tion of his many contributions to part of the Jepson Herbaria at the the life sciences and his support University of California (UC), of university libraries. At the Berkeley. honors in 1939. His senior and Berkeley (see Kamen, 1985). In dedication of this room, he was Al graduated from the PhD theses were on studies of addition to Andrew A. Benson, lauded as a “much-loved teacher, Bismarck Gymnasium in Berlin enzyme systems in photosyn- of Calvin-Benson cycle fame, Al scholar, and adviser.” in 1936, but he had a rough time thesis by means of radioactive was one of the first to learn of It was in 1954 that Albert at the Nazi-controlled elite high tracers, carbon monoxide, and Kamen and Ruben’s discovery Frenkel did research with school. As a Jew, he was pushed ultraviolet light. Al obtained his of carbon-14; he remained a 1953 Nobel Prize winner Fritz around at school. To avoid being PhD in botany in 1942, at the age friend of Kamen’s all his life and Lipmann at Harvard Medical picked up, he would ride his bike of 23 (see http://ucjeps.berkeley. attended the function at the State School and Massachusetts to get around instead of taking edu/history/botanyatberkeley/). Department when Kamen was General Hospital. And it is this public transportation. His degrees from UC Berkeley awarded the Fermi Prize in 1996. work that led to the discovery of In April 1937, at age 17, Al were under his original name, After graduation, Al went photophosphorylation in photo- left Germany. Eager to leave Wolfgang Hans Albert Frenkel, to work with Robert Emerson synthetic bacteria (Frenkel, 1954). behind the rigidity of German which he changed to Albert W. at Caltech, studying “artificial In addition, Al did research life, he eventually made his way Frenkel upon becoming a U.S. rubber.” He was then drafted into at the Hopkins Marine Station to New York City and then San citizen in 1944. the U.S Army, first stationed at (working with the greatest micro- Francisco. He applied to UC As a graduate student, Al Fort Hood and then sent to Oak biologist of his time, Cornelis Berkeley and wrote his admis- worked with Martin Kamen and Ridge National Laboratory, where van Niel), Stanford University sion essay on Marie Curie. He Samuel Ruben when they were he worked for the Army Corps of (1967–1968), and the Marine received two years of college working at the Cyclotron in the Engineers. During this period, he Biology Laboratory at Woods credit for his Gymnasium educa- Radiation Lab at Berkeley. The worked at Rochester, New York, Hole National Laboratory (first in tion and received his BA in era of “Big Science” was being for the Manhattan Project as a 1948, then again in 1957). plant physiology with highest ushered in by Ernest Lawrence at technical sergeant. In addition, continued on page 30 ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 42, NUMBER 3  29 Obituary

FRENKEL Discovery of photophosphory- Review of photophosphoryla- (including the author SF) to continued from page 29 lation tion work with him, and they would As mentioned earlier, Al discov- The discoveries in the 1950s were wander around the old Botany In his 1993 “Recollections” ered photophosphorylation in reviewed after a decade with a Department building at the in the journal Photosynthesis bacterial photosynthesis (Frenkel, new unique perspective (Frenkel University of Minnesota and the Research, Al did a fantastic job in 1954; see his full detailed paper, and Cost, 1966). adjacent student union and the bringing before us his research Frenkel, 1956; also see Gest and hospital. life, his discoveries, and his asso- Free radicals Blankenship, 2004; 2005). Albert Frenkel was preceded ciations, showing how and when With Jim Bolton, Al described in death by his sisters Doro he did what. We refer the reader Light-induced reduction of free radicals in both chromato- Odenheimer and Susanne Goltz to this wonderful story. Here, we nucleotides in photosynthetic phores and chloroplasts (Cost et and his brother Paul Frenkel. He present a glimpse of his research bacteria al., 1969). is survived by his wife, Goldie areas in chronological order to Just as ATP is important, reduc- Frenkel, and by daughter Susanna show his journey in science from ing power is equally important for 1970s–1980s Frenkel (coauthor of this tribute), graduate student in the 1940s photosynthetic bacteria. Frenkel until retirement in the 1980s. (1958; 1959a) made one of the Electron transport in bacterial sons David and Joseph Frenkel, first measurements in this area. chromatophores and four grandchildren. 1940s Soon thereafter he was invited Frenkel (1970) discussed the multiplicity of electron transport to write a review on this topic This article is adapted with per- Path of carbon in photosynthesis (Frenkel, 1959b). in bacterial photosynthesis and Long before anyone else, Frenkel reviewed, in great depth, all that mission from Govindjee and S. (1941) and Ruben et al. (1942) pre- Structural aspects was then known about chro- Frenkel, Albert W. Frenkel (1919– sented one of the earliest measure- Al began looking at structural matophores (Frenkel and Nelson, 2015): Photosynthesis research ments on intermediates in plant aspects of photosynthesis with 1971). pioneer, much-loved teacher, and cells using radioactive tracers. This Donald D. Hickman; this opened scholar. Photosynthesis Research. was followed by looking at what a new way of thinking for him Mechanism of superoxide doi 10.1007/s11120-015-0109-x. uranium did on the surface of cells (see Frenkel and Hickman, 1959; production Jahnke and Frenkel (1975, 1978) (Rothstein et al., 1948), perhaps a Hickman and Frenkel, 1959). References and Frenkel et al. (1981) studied follow-up of what went on during Nitrogen fixation the mechanism of superoxide Brown, A. H., and Frenkel, A. W. World War II. Getting deeper into biochemistry (1953a). Photosynthesis. Annual production in in vitro systems. and metabolism of photosynthetic Review of Plant Physiology 4: 23–58. 1950s bacteria, he studied nitrogen fixa- The finale Brown, A. H., and Frenkel, A. W. Photoreduction in algae tion (see Pratt and Frenkel, 1959). (1953b). Photosynthesis. Annual Al ended his writing career by Review of Biochemistry 22: 423–458. Hans Gaffron had discovered covering Fritz Lipman’s contribu- 1960s Cost, K., Bolton, J. R., and Frenkel, photoreduction in some algae; Al tions (Frenkel, 1985) as well as his soon thereafter discovered it in A. W. (1969). Comparative decay Structural aspects (continued) own (Frenkel, 1993). characteristics of the light gener- several other algae and extended Hickman and Frenkel (1965a,b) ated free radical in chromatophores this area of research, which is now continued their detailed struc- Personal attributes and chloroplasts. Photochemistry becoming quite important for bio- tural studies on photosynthetic Al Frenkel was a good-natured Photobiology 10: 251–258. fuel and bioenergy (see Frenkel et bacteria, extending them to sev- and kind person. He would spend Frenkel, A. W. (1941). Photosyn- al., 1950; Frenkel and Rieger, 1951; eral species. hours telling stories of the past, thesis with radioactive carbon, and Frenkel, 1952; and Frenkel and including the controversy between the distribution of the intermedi- Lewin, 1954). New interest in a chlorophyll b ate products in the plant cell. Plant mutant of barley the 1931 Nobel laureate Otto Physiology 16: 654–655. Major review Highkin and Frenkel (1962) Warburg and Robert Emerson Frenkel, A. W. (1952). Hydrogen In 1953, Al coauthored a major published their physiological about the minimum quantum and highly authoritative review on evolution by the flagellate green alga studies on a barley mutant that requirement of oxygen evolution Chlamydomonas moewusii. Archives photosynthesis with Allan Brown, would be used by others later for (see Hill and Govindjee, 2014). of Biochemistry and Biophysics 38: editor-in-chief of Plant Physiology understanding the mechanism Al was not only a dedicated 219–230. from 1958 to 1963 (see Brown and of protection against excess light scientist, but he was also a very Frenkel, A. W. (1954). Light-induced Frenkel, 1953a,b). by plants (see, e.g., Gilmore et al., good father. Often on week- phosphorylation by cell-free prepa- 2000). ends, he would take his children rations of photosynthetic bacteria. 30  ASPB NEWS | MAY/JUNE 2015 Obituary

Journal of the American Chemical Frenkel, A. W., and Cost, K. (1966). Gest, H., and Blankenship, R. E. Jahnke, L. S., and Frenkel, A. W. Society 76: 5568. Photosynthetic phosphorylation. In (2005). Time line of discoveries: (1975). Evidence for the photo- Comprehensive biochemistry, vol. 14, Anoxygenic photosynthesis. In chemical production of superoxide Frenkel, A. W. (1956). Photophos- eds. M. Florkin and E. H. Stotz, pp. Discoveries in Photosynthesis. mediated by saponified chlorophyll. phorylation of adenine nucleotides by 397–423. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Advances in Photosynthesis and Biochemical and Biophysical Research cell-free preparations of purple bac- Respiration, vol. 20, eds. Govindjee, Communications 66: 144–150. teria. Journal of Biological Chemistry Frenkel, A., Gaffron, H., and J. T. Beatty, H. Gest, and J. F. Allen, 222: 823–834. Battley, E. H. (1950). Photosynthesis Jahnke, L. S., and Frenkel, A. W. photoreduction by the blue-green pp. 51–62. Dordrecht, Netherlands: (1978). Photooxidation of epinephrine Frenkel, A. W. (1958). Simultaneous alga, Synechococcus elongatus, Nag. Springer. sensitized by methylene-blue. Evidence reduction of diphosphopyridine Biological Bulletin 99: 157–162. Gilmore, A., Itoh, S. S., and for the involvement of singlet oxygen nucleotide and oxidation of reduced Govindjee (2000). Global spectral- and of superoxide. Photochemistry and flavin mononucleotide by illuminated Frenkel, A. W., and Hickman, D. D. kinetic analysis of room temperature Photobiology 28: 517–523. bacterial chromatophores. Journal of (1959). Structure and photochemi- chlorophyll a fluorescence from the American Chemical Society 80: 34. cal activity of chlorophyll-containing Kamen, M. D. (1985). Radiant sci- particles from Rhodospirillum light harvesting antenna mutants of ence, dark politics: A memoir of the Frenkel, A. W. (1959a). Light- rubrum. Journal of Biophysical barley. Philosophical Transactions of nuclear age. Berkeley: University of induced reactions of chromatophores Biochemistry Cytology 6: 285–290. the Royal Society of London, B B335: California Press. of Rhodospirillum rubrum. The 1371–1384. Frenkel, A. W., Jahnke, L. S., and Pratt, D. C., and Frenkel, A. W. Photochemical apparatus, its struc- Petryka, Z. J. (1981). Photooxidation Hickman, D. D., and Frenkel, A. W. (1959). Studies on nitrogen fixation ture and function. In Brookhaven and photoreduction reaction sen- (1959). The structure of and photosynthesis of Rhodospirillum Symposia in Biology, vol. 11, pp. 276– sitized by hematoporphyrin. In Rhodospirillum rubrurn. Journal of rubrum. Plant Physiology 34: 333–337. 288. Upton, NY: Brookhaven National Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology Oxygen and oxy radicals chemistry Rothstein A., Frenkel A., and Laboratory. 6: 277–284. and biology, ed. A. J. Rodgers and E. Larabee, C. (1948). The relationship Frenkel, A. W. (1959b). Light- L. Powers, pp. 634-635. New York: Hickman, D. D., and Frenkel, A. W. of the cell surface to metabolism III. induced reactions of bacterial chro- Academic Press. (1965a). Observations on the struc- Certain characteristics of the uranium matophores and their relation to Frenkel, A. W., and Lewin, R. A. ture of Rhodospirillum molischianum. complex with cell surface groups photosynthesis. Annual Review of (1954). Photoreduction in Chlamy- Journal of Cell Biology 25: 261–278. of yeast. Journal of Cellular and Plant Physiology 10: 53–70. Comparative Physiology 32: 261–274. domonas. American Journal of Botany Hickman, D. D., and Frenkel, A. W. Frenkel, A. W. (1970). Multiplicity of 41: 586–589. (1965b). Observations on the struc- Ruben, S., Frenkel, A. W., and electron transport reactions in bacte- Frenkel, A. W., and Nelson, R. A. ture of Rhodospirillum rubrum. Kamen, M. D. (1942). Some experi- rial photosynthesis. Biological Reviews (1971). Bacterial chromatophores. In Journal of Cell Biology 25: 279–291. ments on chlorophyll and photosyn- of the Cambridge Philosophical Society thesis using radioactive tracers. Methods in enzymology, vol. 23, photo- Highkin, H. R., and Frenkel, A. W. 45: 569–616. Journal of Physical Chemistry 46: synthesis part A, ed. A. San Pietro, pp. (1962). Studies on the growth and 710–714. Frenkel, A. W. (1985). Fritz 256–268. New York: Academic Press. metabolism of a barley mutant lack- Lipmann’s contributions to photo- Frenkel, A. W., and Rieger, S. (1951). ing chlorophyll b. Plant Physiology 27: synthesis. In Cellular regulation and Photoreduction in algae. Nature 167: 814–820. malignant growth, ed. S. Ebashi, pp. 1030. Hill, J. F., and Govindjee (2014). 283–291. Tokyo: Japan Scientific Gest, H., and Blankenship, R. E. The controversy over the minimum Societies Press. (2004). Time line of discoveries: quantum requirement for oxygen evo- Frenkel, A. W. (1993). Recollections. Anoxygenic bacterial photosynthesis. lution. Photosynthesis Research 122: Photosynthesis Research 35: 103–116. Photosynthesis Research 80: 59–70. 97–112.

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