The Value of Our ASPB Community by JUDY CALLIS UPDATE ASPB President, University of California, Davis

March/April 2020 • Volume 47, Number 2

p. 7 p. 8 p. 12 Journal Flexibility Zachary Lippman NEW COLUMN in the Troubling Wins 2020 National Times of COVID-19 Academy of Unsung Heroes: Sciences Prize Samantha Link

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS

President’s Letter

The Value of Our ASPB Community BY JUDY CALLIS UPDATE ASPB President, University of California, Davis

As the impacts of the coronavirus his is an unprecedented resources on Plantae pandemic become ever more serious, and extraordinary support profession- ASPB’s Plant Biology 2020 contin- Ttime. The fabric of our als and students gency planning efforts have gathered personal and professional worldwide without pace. Among other possibilities, as lives is changing daily, and charge and provide of early April we are exploring the it will be different as you communities with feasibility of options for online access read this message than it was a forum for discus- to meeting content—including the when I wrote it a few weeks sion and resource networking and other peer-to-peer ago. Now more than ever, we sharing. Join Twitter connections that are such a vital should value our ASPB com- if you haven’t component of Plant Biology confer- munity. Indeed, none of us is already and follow ences. Decisions are still pending; alone. ASBP (@ASPB); we will share more detailed informa- The goals of this letter are post ideas, ask for tion as soon as we are able to do so. to point you toward resourc- suggestions, and In the meantime, we thank you for es that might be particularly list resource URLs. your patience and commitment to the helpful to the ASPB commu- Better yet, encour- Plant Biology conference. Follow all nity and to encourage all of age your colleagues updates at: plantbiology.aspb.org. us to reach out (virtually, of (and help them) course) to our colleagues to to join Twitter and Please let us know how offer support and to provide (or seek) assis- follow ASBP to keep us connected. ASPB can help. Send us your tance when needed. To academics in particu- Fortunately for educators, ASPB already ideas and questions via lar, if you are knowledgeable about distance has developed some potent online resources. [email protected] or or online instruction and assessment or have Teaching Tools in Plant Biology, first devel- [email protected]. And please teaching modules that are sharable, consider oped by Mary Williams, a features editor for stay healthy. making them available via Plantae. The continued on page 3 Contents Council members highlighted in blue ASPB Council also serve on the Board of Directors.

President Judy Callis Immediate Past President; Chair Rob Last President-elect Maureen McCann Secretary Wayne Parrott Treasurer; Chair, Board of Trustees Kent Chapman 1 President’s Letter Elected Members Christine Foyer Clint Chapple Laura Wayne 4 ASPB’s 2020 Sharon Gray Women’s Young Investigator Chair, Membership Committee José Dinneny Travel Award Winners Announced Chair, Minority Affairs Committee Gustavo MacIntosh Chair, Publications Committee Neil E. Olszewski Chair, Women in Plant Biology Committee Laura Wayne 5 Society Civic Science Initiative: Advancing Collective Chair, Education Committee Erin Friedman Chair, International Committee Anja Geitman Support for Civic Science Activities Chair, Science Policy Committee Nathan Springer

Sectional Representatives 7 Journal Flexibility in the Troubling Times of COVID-19 Mid-Atlantic Section Mike Axtell Midwestern Section Gustavo MacIntosh Northeastern Section Carolyn Lee-Parsons Southern Section Ashlee McCaskill People Western Section Kulvinder Gill Mexico Section Rubén Rellán Álvarez 8 Zachary Lippman Wins 2020 National Academy Early Career Plant Scientists Section Rishi Masalia

of Sciences Prize Environmental and Ecological Plant Physiology Section Andy VanLoocke Primarily Undergraduate Institutions Section Leeann Thornton Where Are They Now? Ambassador Alliance Sunil Kumar 9 Ken Keegstra ASPB Staff Chief executive officer Crispin Taylor, [email protected] Chief financial officer Clara Woodall, [email protected] 11 ASPB Legacy Society Founding Members Executive and governance affairs administrator Sylvia Lee, [email protected] Accounting manager Teressa Leath, [email protected] Senior staff accountant Jotee Pundu, [email protected] Senior staff accountant Francky Rakotomanana, [email protected] Unsung Heroes Director of meetings and events Jean Rosenberg, [email protected] Conference coordinator Teresa Myers, [email protected] 12 Samantha Link Senior membership manager Shoshana Kronfeld, [email protected] Community engagement administrator Katie Rogers Web systems manager Mark James, [email protected] Legislative and public affairs director vacant Science Policy Executive coordinator, Plant Science Research Network Natalie Henkhaus, [email protected] 14 Policy Update Education coordinator Winnie Nham, [email protected] Director of publications Nancy A. Winchester, [email protected] Publications assistant Diane McCauley, [email protected] Subscriptions manager Suzanne Cholwek, [email protected] Subscriptions assistant Linda Palmer, [email protected] Managing editor Jennifer Regala, [email protected] Science writer, Plant Physiology Peter Minorsky, [email protected] Production manager, Plant Physiology Jon Munn, [email protected] Peer review manager, Plant Physiology Ashton Wolf, [email protected] Senior features editor, The Plant Cell Nan Eckardt, [email protected] Features editor, The Plant Cell Mary Williams, [email protected] Production manager, The Plant Cell Susan Entwistle, [email protected] Peer review manager, The Plant Cell Annette Kessler, [email protected]

The ASPB News is distributed to all ASPB members and is also available online. It is published six times annually in odd-numbered months. Its purposes are to keep membership 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, April 5 for May/June publication). Contact: Nancy A. Winchester, Editor, ASPB News, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA; [email protected]; 301-296-0904. © 2020 American Society of Plant Biologists

2 ASPB NEWS | MARCH/APRIL 2020 PRESIDENT’S LETTER available for viewing on Plantae Finally, as part of our ongo- senior membership manager. To continued from page 1 (https://plantae.org/education/ ing Transparency Project, get to know José, I asked him The Plant Cell, is a free resource plantae-webinars/), and ASPB standing committees are high- a few questions. When you see with more than 40 tools avail- is adding more every month. lighted through these letters. The him, Shoshana, or Membership able (https://community.plantae. Keep checking the site (as well Membership Committee (for Committee members, please org/organization/teaching-tools- as Twitter and your email!) for current members, see https:// thank them for their efforts. in-plant-biology/dashboard). If announcements of future webi- aspb.org/about/committees/ For updates on ASPB and you haven’t perused the topics nars in which you may partici- #toggle-id-7) is guided by its new COVID-19, please visit https:// recently, I urge you do so; the pate live and ask questions of the chair, José Dinneny, and support- plantbiology.aspb.org/covid- recent addition “Computational panelists. ed by Shoshana Kronfeld, ASPB’s 19-updates/. Stay safe and healthy. Image Processing in Microscopy” includes a hands-on workshop. Another free resource is the online image library from the Meet José Dinneny, first edition of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology of Plants Membership Committee Chair (https://aspb.org/publications/ other-aspb-publications/online- image-library/). And Focus To help members get to know What do you value about your Collections in Plant Physiology you, how did you get into ASPB membership? (35 of them; see http://www. plant science? I love the big-tent feeling of plantphysiol.org/collection) are It really began as I was try- ASPB. You have members from excellent resources for a themed ing to choose my major at all walks of careers and disci- course. the University of California, plines. The young plant scien- Mentoring is valued at ASPB Berkeley. I had become a bit tists also have an important and is particularly important in disillusioned by the large role to play in the governance doing these things well is to ac- these stressful times. Again, ASPB number of premed students of the Society and in bringing tively participate in the Society can help as you remind mentees in the molecular and cellular innovative new ideas. With the and act as on-the-ground am- of the value of your professional biology major and did not recent initiation of the Early bassadors communicating the community. A student space on feel they shared my passion Career Plant Scientists Section, importance of plant science. Plantae features resources and for discovery. I was excited I hope we will see even more discussions for undergraduate about how basic discovery participation by students and What is your favorite activ- and graduate students (https:// could ultimately be applied to postdocs in ASPB. ity at the annual Plant Biology community.plantae.org/ increase the sustainability of meeting? organization/student-space/ our society and started to think Thank you for your service If I’m to be 100% honest, it’s dashboard). And in lieu of more about majoring in plant as chair of the Membership presenting my lab’s research. It’s in-person meetings, webinars biology. When I looked at the Committee. As you begin your ultimately important for us to are already available, spanning courses required, I was excited leadership, is there anything in understand that at our core, we topics from professional devel- by the holistic education in particular you would like your are a scientific society here to opment (e.g., Preparing Your plants I would get. Donald committee to focus on? support the success of plant sci- Manuscript for Submission) to Kaplan’s Plant Morphology We need to help our young entists. ASPB meetings are great sharing experiences (Social Media course got me hooked on de- plant scientists see the value of because of the many opportuni- for Scientists: What, Why, and velopment, and Sarah Hake joining and maintaining their ties students and postdocs have How; We Are Here and We Are and Robert Fischer’s Plant membership in ASPB. This to present their research, discuss Scientists! LGBTQ+ Perspectives Development course ultimately Society really works for them their ideas, make professional and Topics in Plant Science) led me to join Detlef Weigel’s by supporting plant science connections, and raise the game to expanding technical exper- lab at the Salk Institute for funding, outreach, and train- of their research. This is true for tise (Transdisciplinary Plant Biological Studies. ing. The best way for young trainees but also for more estab- Phenomics and Phenotyping for scientists to make sure ASPB is lished scientists.  Maize Crop Improvement). These and many other webinars are

ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 47, NUMBER 2 3 ASPB’s 2020 Sharon Gray Women’s Young Investigator Travel Award Winners Announced

ach year, ASPB, through its Congratulations to all of the 2020 WYITA winners! Women in Plant Biology ECommittee, makes travel awards to early career women investigators to attend the Plant Biology conference. Through a donation from the Sharon Gray Foundation (https://sharongray foundation.org/), the 2018–2020 Women’s Young Investigator Travel Awards (WYITAs) are named for Sharon, who had a passion for and commitment to mentoring women in science. By Nanna Bjarnholt Katarzyna Glowacka Wenrong He Jingjing Huang naming the WYITAs for Sharon, University of University of Nebraska– Salk Institute for Ghent University, we honor her contributions and Copenhagen, Denmark Lincoln Biological Studies, La Belgium seek to continue her legacy. Jolla, California The goal of the competi- MALDI-MS imaging How soil fertility, de- Mining for protein tive process that underpins the guides tissue resolved velopmental stage, and Identification of novel S-sulfenylation in WYITA program is to increase transcriptomics for eluci- genotype affect the regulators for root sys- Arabidopsis uncovers attendance of early career women dation of specialized me- kinetics of photoprotec- tem architecture using redox-sensitive sites investigators at the annual Plant tabolites biosynthesis and tion in maize high-throughput chemi- Biology meeting by provid- physiological functions cal genetics and genome- ing travel funds. Applications wide association study are open to scientists who are within the first five years of their appointment in academic faculty- level positions, government research positions, or industry research scientist positions, as well as experienced postdocs. Selection is based on the science and quality of the abstract submitted, relative to the appli- cant’s amount of time as an early career investigator; a statement describing why their travel should be supported; and financial need. Anna Locke Joëlle Mühlemann Lena Maria Müller Amanda Storm Eight women were selected USDA–ARS, Raleigh, Wake Forest University, Boyce Thompson Institute, Western Carolina this year, and each will receive North Carolina Winston-Salem, North Ithaca, New York University, Cullowhee, a $1,000 award to support their Stomatal behavior in the Carolina A CLE-SUNN module North Carolina attendance at Plant Biology 2020 in field does not support Flavonols take the heat regulates strigolactone Characterizing the Washington, DC.  growth chamber–based out of heat stress to pro- content and fungal colo- BAM9–AMY3 protein– hypotheses for soybean tect pollen from elevated nization in arbuscular protein interaction drought tolerance reactive oxygen species mycorrhiza

4 ASPB NEWS | MARCH/APRIL 2020 Society Civic Science Initiative: Advancing Collective Support for Civic Science Activities BY ROSE HENDRICKS Kavli Civic Science Fellow

ddressing many of the most complex and important Kavli Civic Aproblems we face—from climate change to global health Science Fellow threats—requires conversations and Connecting scientific collaborations among scientists, de- societies and advancing cision makers, and the public more their collective support broadly. For many scientists, these for scientists’ civic science interactions are embedded in their activities identities and daily realities; they may regularly speak to the media, meet with their elected representatives to discuss science policy issues, or collaborate with communities to undertake projects that TM address local issues. These activities contribute to a culture of “civic science,” in which scientists are active Science supports society through science communication, advocacy, and citizens and create opportunities for outreach; society informs science through public engagement and public all members of the public to engage participation. with science. Scientific societies have an aspb.org/advocacy/become-an- Through the Society Civic important role to play in cultivat- advocate/). Science Initiative, collaborating ing a culture of civic science and in Scientific societies have scientific societies are laying the supporting scientists who engage traditionally supported their groundwork for a more cohesive in various capacities with diverse own members in this work, but whole among societies to work audiences. For example, ASPB’s with support from the Kavli toward influencing long-term Plant BLOOME (Plant Biology Foundation, which is dedicated culture change within the scien- Learning Objectives, Outreach to advancing science (https:// tific enterprise to promote and Materials, & Education; https:// www.kavlifoundation.org/), these support meaningful civic science aspb-bloome.secure-platform. organizations have the oppor- engagement. To this end, societies’ com/a/) grant provides funds for tunity to collaborate to advance current civic science efforts were projects to advance knowledge their collective support of scien- examined and documented to and appreciation of plant biology tists’ civic science efforts. The identify common ways they aim among youths, students, and the Society Civic Science Initiative, to equip, empower, and reward The Society Civic Science Initiative which began in fall 2019, is led scientists who engage with broad general public, and the Society is led by the American Society offers guidance to members who by the American Society for Cell audiences; the report is available at for Cell Biology, in partnership want to participate in outreach Biology, in partnership with https://www.informalscience.org/ with American Association for events (https://aspb.org/education- AAAS, the American Geophysical scientific-society-civic-science- the Advancement of Science, the outreach/public-engagement- Union, and Research!America. landscape. This landscape assess- American Geophysical Union, and outreach/aspb-events/) and ASPB is actively participating in ment provided insights into key Research!America. advocate for science (https:// this collaboration. continued on page 7

ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 47, NUMBER 2 5 Call for Papers Focus Issue on Transport and Signaling

Edited by Yi-Fang Tsay, Michael R. Blatt, Matthew Gilliham, Christophe Maurel, and Nicolaus von Wirén Submission deadline: November 2, 2020 Publication: May 2021 To submit an article, go to http://pphys.msubmit.net/.

Membrane transport is essential for nutrition and cellular homeostasis, it plays key roles in signaling and development, and it is a vital component of responses to biotic and abiotic stress. This Focus Issue will highlight the recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms be- hind membrane transport, its integration with signaling, and its roles in homeostasis. A selection of Update Reviews, included within the Issue, will address new and transformative insights that are driving research beyond the traditional boundaries of transport physiology. We welcome submissions of primary Research Articles, Research Reports, and Letters from the community on all aspects of membrane transport, and we encourage submissions that address quantitative frameworks in understanding membrane transport, transport proteins, and the integration of transport and signaling across scales.

Authors submitting to this Focus Issue should indicate their interest in the cover letter when submitting papers online at http://pphys.msubmit.net/. Please select “Transport and Signaling” 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 as part of the online Focus Collection on this topic.

For inquiries, please contact the Editors of the Focus Issue: Yi-Fang Tsay ([email protected]) Michael R. Blatt ([email protected]) Matthew Gilliham ([email protected]) Christophe Maurel ([email protected]) Nicolaus von Wirén ([email protected]) Journal Flexibility in the Troubling Times of COVID-19

Dear authors, reviewers, and Please note that we are flexible the added time you may need to Signed by: editors, about deadlines and we can provide complete your review. In addition, Blake Meyers, Editor-in-Chief, “no-excuse” extensions—that is, we recognize that due to circum- Given the current COVID-19 The Plant Cell, ORCID ID: 0000- if you ask for an extension on a stances beyond your control, 0001-6680-1722 pandemic, we, the Editors-in- journal-related task, we will do our you may be unable to respond Chief and publishers of multiple best to accommodate this request. to our reminders or requests, Ivan Baxter, Editor-in-Chief, plant-focused journals, have had For revisions to your manu- and ultimately perhaps cannot Plant Direct, ORCID ID: 0000- questions from members of our scripts that were already reviewed, deliver a review, despite your 0001-6680-1722 community about our flexibility we assume that you are likely to best intentions. In these cases, we Mike Blatt, Editor-in-Chief, Plant in these troubled times. Like want to have your paper resubmit- may have to ask our authors to Physiology, ORCID ID: 0000- many of you, we and our col- ted as soon as you can manage be patient if it takes longer than 0003-1361-4645 leagues on our editorial boards it. Therefore, the resubmission anticipated to return decisions Lee Sweetlove, Editor-in-Chief, are also facing serious issues in can wait until your lab is capable and reviews. We do ask that if at The Plant Journal, ORCID ID: life and work due to COVID-19. of working again. We pledge to all possible, you keep in commu- 0000-0002-2461-4133 Work-related issues include the handle your resubmission as nication with us about what you time we are spending on things quickly as possible, even though can and cannot accomplish in a Henry Daniell, Editor-in-Chief, like contingency planning for lab our colleagues on our editorial given period of time, so that we Plant Biotechnology Journal, shutdowns, or dealing with those boards are facing the same chal- may adjust accordingly. We are ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4485-1176 shutdowns after they were im- lenges as our entire community. confident that the community as a John Lunn, Editor-in-Chief, posed while shifting roles among We understand, too, that whole will recognize the extreme Journal of Experimental Botany, lab members to keep important reviewers may need extra time nature of the situation and the ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8533-3004 plants or cultures alive. Many to complete their assessments of need to come together to help our of us are also having to convert manuscripts and we will do our colleagues and peers to the best of Crispin Taylor, CEO, ASPB, classes to online instruction, deal- best to accommodate such needs. our collective ability. ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4669-3215 ing with major changes in work- We cannot grant open-ended Thank you for your under- Nancy Winchester, Director of life balance (kids out of school), review extensions, but we can be standing and we wish safety and Publications, ASPB, ORCID ID: and even illness. understanding and flexible about health to everyone. 0000-0002-9630-4054 

SOCIETY CIVIC SCIENCE INITIATIVE of civic science and encourage Society Civic Science Initiative will and support for science grows, continued from page 5 more scientists to engage continue to monitor and measure the uptake of scientifically sound opportunities for scientific societ- • Encouraging more universities civic science progress and to practices and policies increases, ies to make a greater collective to offer greater support and seek ways to connect efforts with and the promise of a diverse and impact in this area. From there, rewards for scientists engaging relevant social science research, competent scientific workforce is the collaborating organizations in civic science diverse practitioner expertise, and realized for years to come. developed a collective vision and • Supporting more scientists in other emerging efforts. Please contact Natalie goals, which include the following: engaging more often and more There is optimism among Henkhaus ([email protected]) effectively with policy makers for more information about ASPB’s • Creating opportunities for col- the participants that this new and members of the public. involvement with the Society Civic laboration among societies to collaboration will create valuable Science Initiative. More on civic scale up effective civic science At the end of January 2020, opportunities for scientific societ- science can be found at the Rita programs staff from a wide range of societies to advance a culture of civic Allen Foundation’s website (http:// • Expanding the number and ies, including ASPB, convened to science. When science–society ritaallen.org/civic-science/).  influence of incentives to in- kick off specific projects toward relationships are strong, scientific crease scientists’ prioritization these shared goals. As the projects research reflects public priori- expand and gain momentum, the ties and values, public interest in

ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 47, NUMBER 2 7 People

Zachary Lippman Wins 2020 National Academy of Sciences Prize

n January, the National The NAS Prize in Food and Academy of Sciences (NAS) Agriculture Sciences recognizes Iannounced that ASPB mem- research by a midcareer scien- ber Zachary B. Lippman, Jacob tist (within 20 years of PhD Goldfield Professor of Genetics at completion) at a U.S. institution Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory who has made an extraordinary and Howard Hughes Medical contribution to agriculture or to Institute Investigator, was the understanding of the biol- awarded the 2020 NAS Prize in ogy of a species fundamentally Food and Agriculture Sciences. important to agriculture or food Zachary studies the genetics of production. For the purpose when and where plants produce of the prize, areas of science flowers, fruits, and seeds and with applications to agriculture uses this knowledge to accelerate include plant and animal sciences, crop breeding. His work, which microbiology, nutrition and food aims to improve crop production PHOTO BY JOHN D. & CATHERINE T. MACARTHUR FOUNDATION science, soil science, entomology, and hardiness, helps address the veterinary medicine, and agricul- challenges of global population tural economics. The recipient is growth, environmental sustain- plant growth and development variation, which is the driver of awarded a medal and a $100,000 ability, and climate change. could be “tuned” to manipulate crop improvement. Zachary’s prize endowed through gener- Through his focus on the stem cell maturation, the number work puts him at the forefront of ous gifts from the Foundation for tomato, one of many crop species and architectures of flowering plant genetics and sets the stage Food and Agriculture Research with limited natural genetic shoots (inflorescences), and ulti- for new tools and crop breeds to and the Bill & Melinda Gates diversity, Zachary has made key mately yield. In recent years he protect people from food insecu- Foundation.  discoveries that can be applied has developed new applications rity caused by reduced farmland, to a wide range of plants. He for CRISPR/Cas9 genome edit- climate change, water shortages, discovered that genes controlling ing to engineer quantitative trait and migration.

Call for Papers

2021 Focus Issue on Redox Biology Editors: Peter Geigenberger, Nicholas Smirnoff, Frank Van Breusegem, Karl-Josef Dietz, and Graham Noctor

Deadline for Submission: September 4, 2020 Publication: April 2021 For more information go to https://aspb.org/publications/ppfocus/

8 ASPB NEWS | MARCH/APRIL 2020 Where Are They Now?

As the years churn on, many esteemed members of ASPB have passed the torch to their younger colleagues and stepped out of the limelight to allow others to bask in its glory. Yet, many continue their good works to the benefit of plant biology and the world. Edited by Rebecca Dickstein, University of North Texas, “Where Are They Now?” is part of the ASPB News suite of columns focused on the personal and scientific life and insights of ASPB members at all stages of their career. This column offers a look into the current activities of influ- ential members of ASPB who continue to make a positive mark on our Society. We hope you all enjoy this addition to your newsletter. Please feel free to submit your own article to “Luminaries,” “Membership Corner,” or “Where Are They Now?” For details, contact José Dinneny at [email protected]. As always, we are open to suggestions for articles or features of interest to readers of the ASPB News.

Ken Keegstra University Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University

he path to where I am now The chemistry depart- nant DNA methods was a circuitous one, as is ment at the University and protein expres- Toften the case. I will first of Colorado had a sion systems allowed briefly explain where I am now, biochemistry section, novel proteins to be then describe the path that led and there I investi- produced and tested me here, and finally explain a bit gated the complex for transport into about what I am doing now and carbohydrates of plant isolated chloroplasts. some lessons learned from my cell walls with Peter Another signifi- journey. Albersheim, a creative cant change in my My wife Sue and I now live on scientist who strongly career came early Lake Redstone, a small but scenic influenced my career. in 1993, when we lake in southern Wisconsin about When it was time moved back to an hour northwest of Madison. to pursue postdoctor- Michigan so that I We chose this location for retire- al work, the war on could assume the ment because of its centrality to cancer had begun, so directorship of the our sons and their families, who I decided to explore Michigan State live in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the differences in Ken and Sue Keegstra at an outdoor restaurant in Oslo, Norway, University–DOE Illinois. Another consideration surface carbohydrates August 2019. Plant Research was that Sue always wanted a between normal and Laboratory. With home in the woods and on a lake. cancer cells with Phil Robbins a faculty position, it did not take the move to a new location came After 50 years of moving for my at the Massachusetts Institute of long to make a decision. a gradual transition to a new career, it was her turn to select Technology. Because funding was The transition back into research area of research. Although our where we live. readily available, the path of least on plant systems took several chloroplast studies continued My scientific story begins resistance was to continue these interesting scientific twists and for another 10 years or so, our in high school, where I became studies when I took a faculty turns that would take too long to research group began a new proj- fascinated with chemistry, in position in the Microbiology describe here. After a short foray ect focused on the biosynthesis large part because of an outstand- Department at the new medi- into investigating the function of plant cell wall polysaccha- ing teacher. During my studies cal school at the State University of lectins in plants, our research rides, especially xyloglucan. As at Hope College, I performed of New York at Stony Brook. It group was soon studying protein the chloroplast projects ramped undergraduate research with an was not long, however, before I targeting into chloroplasts, a topic down, the cell wall program excellent mentor, Jerry Mohrig, realized that working in animal we pursued for more than 25 ramped up. By the mid-2000s, our who later moved to Carleton systems was not my real passion. years. It was an exciting time to be research program was completely College. A senior biochemistry In 1977, when the Botany engaged in the emerging field of focused on plant cell wall polysac- class convinced me to consider Department at the University of organelle biogenesis. The new tech- charide biosynthesis. biochemistry in graduate school. Wisconsin–Madison offered me nologies associated with recombi- continued on page 11

ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 47, NUMBER 2 9 Call for Papers 2021 Focus Issue on Dynamic Membranes Edited by Teun Munnik, Sébastien Mongrand, Viktor Zársky, and Mike Blatt

Deadline for Submission: June 5, 2020 Publication: February 2021

Membranes are highly dynamic structures, with the timescales for turnover of lipid and protein spanning orders of magnitude from seconds to many hours. These hydrophobic fluid barriers incorporate phospholipids, sphingolipids, glycolipids, and sterols, and contain a wide range of proteins crucial for transporting ions and biomolecules (e.g., sugars, miRNAs) across the lipid bilayer. They are crucial as platforms supporting integral and peripheral proteins, hosting sen- sors, and receptors for signal detection and transduction, and they are essential for plant growth and development. The Focus Issue on Dynamic Membranes will capture up-to-date views and perspectives on developments at the forefront of membrane research, and it will highlight the most important gaps in understanding that will be the focus for future studies. Invited Updates will provide reviews on areas that continue to add transformative insights pertinent to existing knowledge and on nascent but important areas of future development. We seek submissions of research articles on all aspects that make plant membranes dynamic, including signaling, endocytosis, exocytosis, vesicular transport, membrane barriers, protein and lipid binding, and the mechanics of these processes.

Authors interested in contributing should indicate this in the cover letter when submitting papers online at http://pphys.msubmit.net. Please select “Dynamic Membranes” 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.

To submit an article, go to http://pphys.msubmit.net/.

Please contact Teun Munnik ([email protected]), Sébastien Mongrand ([email protected]), Viktor Zársky ([email protected]), or Mike Blatt ([email protected]) for more information. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The decision to retire is a conse- the glucan synthases involved In looking back on a career of continued from page 9 quential career choice, but one in xyloglucan biosynthesis and more than 50 years, from publish- About this time, I made plans that is not discussed much among preparing it for publication. I ing undergraduate chemistry to step down as director of the scientists. My decision to retire was continue to serve on the scientific research to publishing collabora- Plant Research Lab and focus on influenced by a 2004 essay written advisory board for three research tive research during retirement, research and teaching for the last by Jeff Schatz, an excellent scien- centers and to participate in it is amazing to see the progress few years of my career. I even had tist who studied mitochondrial review and editorial activities. that has been made in the biologi- a fantasy that I would again do biogenesis; we had met at scientific (Editor’s note: Ken also currently cal and biochemical sciences. I experimental work with my own meetings. During retirement, Jeff chairs ASPB’s Robert Rabson have been enriched by pursuing hands. But my well-intentioned pursued a number of activities, Award and Constitution and research on diverse topics. But plans did not materialize. In 2007, including writing several essays Bylaws committees.) ultimately, science is a human DOE funded three bioenergy providing insightful commentary Retirement has also allowed endeavor. I have been greatly research centers, including the on the practice of science. His essay time for pursuing other inter- influenced by outstanding teach- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research on retirement, entitled “Letting ests. For example, I have taken ers and mentors. In addition, I Center, a joint venture between the Go” (Schatz, 2004), is as long as this up photography, but I still have have been privileged to work with University of Wisconsin–Madison article; the short summary is that much to learn about creating superb colleagues at every stop and Michigan State University. scientists have an obligation to get high-quality photographs. In addi- along the way and with excellent Thus, instead of slowing down, I out of the way to make way for a tion, I am a member of an elected students and associates, in both stepped into the most demanding new generation. He also provided board charged with improving my own laboratory and the labo- position of my career, serving as some ideas on ways to remain water quality in Lake Redstone. ratories of collaborators. I find scientific director for a multidisci- active for those who wish to do so. This has given me a chance to great satisfaction in reading their plinary research center with about At the beginning of 2017, I pretend I am a field biologist by publications and following their

400 students, faculty, and staff retired at the age of 71. During learning about aquatic plants, careers.  spread over multiple institutions. retirement, I have continued to freshwater algae, and nutrient Reference As the center was preparing to engage in science activities while flow in watersheds. Finally, Sue Schatz, G. (2004). Letting go. FEBS apply for an 11th year of funding, I not operating a lab. In collabora- and I enjoy traveling. The photo Letters 576: 285–286. https://doi. decided it was time to let someone tion with colleagues who have shows us in an outdoor restaurant org/10.1016/j.febslet.2004.09.043 else have the fun. labs, we are finalizing a paper on in Oslo, Norway, this past August.

ASPB Legacy Society Founding Members

n the January/February 2020 issue Charles Arntzen Machi Dilworth Peggy Lemaux James Siedow of the ASPB News, we announced John Boyer Rick Dixon Sally Mackenzie Bijay Singh Ithat Legacy Society Founding Ray Bressan Elisabeth Gantt Martin Massengale Chris Somerville Members would be introduced to Nicholas Carpita Sarah Hake Blake Meyers Heven Sze readers through brief biographies Kent Chapman Thomas Hodges Ralph Quatrano Lincoln Taiz prepared by the Founding Members Ray Chollet Mark Jacobs Natasha Raikhel Indra K. Vasil themselves. Read the biographies at https://aspb.org/founding-legacy- Maarten Chrispeels Alan Jones Doug Randall Alessandro Vitale society-members/, and check this Jerry Cohen Harry Klee Stan Roux space in each issue of the ASPB News Gloria Coruzzi Brian Larkins Daniel Schachtman for a list of newly posted bios. Deborah Delmer Rob Last Tom Sharkey

ASPB NEWS | VOLUME 47, NUMBER 2 11 Unsung Heroes

Welcome to the ASPB News “Unsung Heroes of Plant Biology” column! These stories, brought to you by the ASPB Ambassador Program, showcase the vital contributions of non-tenure-track scientists in plant biology. Please contact Shawna Rowe, ASPB ambassador and column editor, at [email protected] with questions or comments.

elcome, dear readers at 1 a.m. To those who keep the siasts, and everyone else who column will be written by early of ASPB News! In this plants alive in the winter and does invaluable and sometimes career scientists and industry Wissue, we introduce a the pests away in the summer. thankless work. These people employees who are members of new column that will showcase To those who maintain core are unsung heroes of plant biol- the ASPB Ambassador Program. some of the most important facilities and are experts in the ogy, and they play critical roles Ambassadors are emerging lead- members of our scientific com- techniques we all need to use in scientific breakthroughs and ers in plant biology recruited to munity, a diverse, oft-ignored, but can’t yet perform. To those discoveries every single day, communicate the mission and and marvelous group of folks: who form the backbone of our around the globe. vision of the Society to plant biol- the non-tenure-track scientists. community but who too often go Appearing every other issue, ogists and the general public alike, We dedicate this column to unrecognized. To the greenhouse the “Unsung Heroes of Plant and this column provides them the scientists who always receive managers, the lab managers, the Biology” column will feature with a platform to further develop acknowledgments in seminars field technicians, the sequenc- non-tenure-track scientists their communication skills. We but tend not to give their own. ing and microscopy experts, the of all backgrounds, identities, hope you enjoy the column! To those who answer the phone mechanics, the senior scientists, and career stages and describe when the –80°C freezer melts the nighttime volunteer enthu- their work and their story. The

Samantha Link Beadle Center Greenhouses, University of Nebraska–Lincoln BY SUNIL K. KENCHANMANE RAJU ASPB Postdoctoral Ambassador, Michigan State University

amantha Link is the time technician, and three student greenhouse manager workers. Sat the Beadle Center Samantha grew up in Ravenna, Greenhouses, University of Nebraska, and obtained a BS in Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL). The horticulture–landscape design Beadle Center is an interdisciplin- from UNL in 1996. During her ary hub housing multiple core undergraduate years, she was a facilities and faculty from various student worker for the horticulture departments. A highlight of the greenhouses at the East Campus. Beadle Center is its state-of-the- Samantha started working at art greenhouse complex, one the Beadle Center Greenhouses of many plant growth facilities in 1998 and became the green- at UNL, which also include the house manager in 2015. The Nebraska Innovation Campus Beadle Center Greenhouses have greenhouse and multiple green- 14,500 square feet of floor space house clusters at the East Campus and provide and care for plants (https://ard.unl.edu/greenhouses). for nearly 25 labs from multiple Samantha manages the Beadle departments. They also maintain Center Greenhouses with the help plants for many of the teaching labs PHOTOT BY CHRISTIAN ELOWSKY of a full-time assistant, a part- for introductory biology, botany,

12 ASPB NEWS | MARCH/APRIL 2020 and life science classes that empha- as a last resort. She feels staff satisfaction is when graduating their options and makes sure they size plants in their coursework. should be a regular and integral students stop by her office or know their academic life isn’t The Beadle Center Greenhouses part of projects conducted in the leave heartfelt notes conveying over. She brings that same calm, also have an extensive collection of greenhouses because they are their gratitude. “It’s an awesome practical demeanor to whole- preserved plant material used for most likely to care for the plants feeling. I have kept many of those greenhouse crises, such as infec- taxonomy, systematics, and plant daily. Ineffective communication notes as they remind me that I am tions by viral or fungal pathogens. diversity classes. regarding growth needs or issues appreciated for my work!” She’s on all the researchers’ sides, Samantha is passionate about usually results in loss of valuable Samantha’s colleagues respect and it is very appreciated. Finally, plants and enjoys seeing plants time and even the failure of part of her work and love her caring on a personal note, I enjoy having begin from a seed and grow to or a whole project. Samantha and nature. Rebecca Roston, associ- conversations with her and nerd- maturity. She is a planner and her team are on call around the ate professor of biochemistry at ing out about plants!” strives to predict issues related to clock, every day of the year. “We the Beadle Center, acknowledged Outside work, Samantha does plant growth and to plan ahead are actively involved, daily, with Samantha’s assistance with her her best to stay active by going to avoid plant loss. As she noted, the facility and the environment in lab’s plant growth needs. “Every to the gym or for a run or walk, “Plants are not always predictable. the facility. Technological advances time we have a lab planting crisis and she is a big fan of Netflix and In many ways, you can count on allow us to get a notification if (e.g., everyone decides Friday is Amazon Prime. Her family lives them to not be predictable; they there is an environmental issue. a good day to plant, we suddenly close by, and she spends time with don’t always do what you want Still, technology, as of now, can’t need a chamber that can have an them often. Amazingly, she has them to.” Being consistent with open a door, move plants, or turn eight-hour day, we need a reverse- houseplants, and quite a bit of her protocols for soil type, planting on a fan to help cool a room, so it cycling chamber to avoid being yard is dedicated to gardening. “I procedures, and sanitization helps has to be one of us who comes and in the lab at 2 a.m.), Sam is there. do enjoy growing plants—even off Samantha stay ahead of the game. addresses the issue.” She is calm and practical and often the clock!”  One of the many challenges Samantha’s efforts are always helps us with temporary growth Samantha faces is that research- acknowledged in students’ gradu- space. Even when that is impos- ers tend to use greenhouse staff ate seminars, and her greatest sible, she helps talk people through

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Events Calendar! https://plantae.org/events-calendar/