ASPB News THE NEWSLETTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS Volume 29, Number 4 July/August 2002

The 2002 Get-A- Mark Your Inside This Issue Member Campaign! Calendars!

Vicki Chandler Your participation in the 2002 ASPB Get-A-Mem- ASPB’s New Specialist Conference Elected to NAS ber campaign is critical in helping us expand our Puts Total Focus on Plant Genetics membership ranks and in maintaining ASPB as a Using the New dynamic scientific membership organization. This Get ready to immerse yourself in the gene pool! HighWire Portal year’s Get-A-Member campaign goal is to recruit ASPB’s first specialist conference, Plant Genetics 1,500 new members to our Society. At this time, 2003: Mechanisms of Genetic Variation, is set for ASBP Welcomes New October 22–26, 2003, at the magnificent Snowbird Postdocs and Students we’re halfway there, but we still need your help! The entire process of referring a new member is Resort & Conference Center in Snowbird, Utah. The event is expected to attract top plant geneticists from ASPB Exhibits at Minorities in totally automated. It takes only a few minutes! We around the world. Science and Technology do the work for you! The bonus for your participa- Network Career Fair tion is that every time you refer someone, your name Scientific symposia will focus on the effects of ge- will be entered into a drawing to win terrific prizes, netic variations on the evolution of plant form and including a grand prize of free airfare to Plant Biol- function, plant speciation, and crop domestication. ogy 2003 in Honolulu OR a Nikon Coolpix 5000 The event is designed to bring you leading-edge in- Digital Camera OR a Cruise Certificate for three formation in a retreat setting—offering full access days for two people! And, for every person you re- to expert presenters throughout the conference. fer who actually joins ASPB, you will receive a $20 If you’re a plant genetics researcher, educator, gift certificate good toward membership renewal or postdoc, or graduate student, you won’t want to publications. To access the online membership cam- miss this groundbreaking new meeting! paign, please direct your browser to http://www. Look for full details online at http://www. aspb.org/getamember/. Remember that the more aspb.org/meetings/pg-2003/. members you refer, the more chances you have to win! The Membership Committee thanks you for Biologists Have participating in our Get-A-Member campaign. If you have any questions, please feel free to con- Best Job in tact Kelley Noone, membership and marketing America manager, at [email protected]. According to this year’s ranking in Jobs Rated Almanac, the best job in the United States is that of biologist. The almanac rates jobs based on degree of autonomy, stress levels, pay, physical demands, job security, and market demand. Just a few years ago, biologists placed 23rd on the list.

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 1 ASPB Officers & Staff CONTENTS

President Vicki L. Chandler 520-676-8725 1 Get-A-Member! President-Elect Daniel R. Bush 217-333-6109 Plant Genetics Specialist Conference Immediate Past President Daniel J. Cosgrove 814-863-3892 3 People— Secretary Roger Hangarter 812-855-5456 Treasurer Mark R. Brodl 210-999-7246 Chandler Elected to NAS Chair, Board of Trustees Ken Keegstra 517-353-7874 Keister Retires Chair, Publications Committee Krishna K. Niyogi 510-643-6602 Galston Is ISI Researcher Chair, Women in Plant Biology Committee Elizabeth Hood 979-690-8537 Minority Affairs Committee Robert Vellanoweth 323-343-2148 4 Perspectives— Education Committee Eric Davies 919-515-2727 Underutilized Crops Elected Members Rebecca S. Boston 919-515-2727 Agent Orange Joe Chappell 606-257-4624 Adrienne E. Clarke +61-38-344-5043 6 Membership Corner Sectional Representatives Midwestern Steven Rodermel 515-294-8890 7 Call for Applications: Northeastern Carol Reiss 401-863-3075 APS Research Grants Southern Joyce G. Foster 304-256-2809 Mid-Atlantic Jonathan Monroe 540-568-6649 8 Using the HighWire Portal Western Dina Mandoli 206-543-4335

10 Foothills Footnote Executive director John Lisack, Jr., ext. 115 [email protected] Executive assistant Donna Gordon, ext. 131 [email protected] 11 New Postdocs and Students Director of finance and administration Susan K. Rosenberry, ext. 111 [email protected] Accountant Kim Snell, ext. 141 [email protected] 12 Public Affairs Network administrator Burton Nicodemus, ext. 146 [email protected] Webmaster Wendy Salhi, ext. 123 [email protected] 20 Education Forum Membership and marketing manager Kelley Noone, ext. 142 [email protected] Subscription and fulfillment assistant Suzanne Moore, ext. 141 [email protected] 21 Call for Proposals: 2003 WSSA Accounts receivable specialist Stephanie Liu-Kuan, ext. 143 [email protected] Undergrad Research Award Accounts payable specialist Stefanie Shamer, ext. 144 [email protected] Administrative assistant Carolyn Freed, ext. 122 [email protected] 22 New Staff Director of public affairs Brian M. Hyps, ext. 114 [email protected] Education Foundation director Robin Lempert, ext. 110 [email protected] 22 Obituaries Education Foundation assistant Paula Brooks, ext. 116 [email protected] Director of publications Nancy A. Winchester, ext. 117 [email protected] 25 Gatherings Publications assistant vacant Managing editor, Plant Physiology Melissa Junior, ext. 118 [email protected] 28 Jobs Science writer, Plant Physiology Peter Minorsky, 914-437-7438 [email protected] Production manager, Plant Physiology Lauren A. Ransome, ext. 130 [email protected] Deadline for November/December 2002 Manuscript coordinator, Plant Physiology Leslie Malone, ext. 124 [email protected] ASPB News: October 10, 2002 Manuscript coordinator, Plant Physiology Leslie Csikos, ext. 125 [email protected] Managing editor, The Plant Cell Beth Staehle, ext. 121 [email protected] News and reviews editor, The Plant Cell Nancy Eckardt, 970-495-9918 [email protected] Production manager, The Plant Cell John Long, ext. 119 [email protected] Senior manuscript coordinator, The Plant Cell Annette Kessler, ext. 120 [email protected]

ASPB News is distributed to all ASPB members and is published six ASPB News times annually, in odd-numbered months. It is edited and prepared by ASPB staff from material provided by ASPB members and other interested parties. Headquarters Office Copy deadline is the 10th day of the preceding even-numbered 15501 Monona Drive month (for example, December 10 for January/February Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA publication). Submit copy by e-mail whenever possible; submit all Phone: 301-251-0560 other copy by mail, not by fax. Fax: 301-279-2996 Contact: Nancy A. Winchester, Editor, ASPB News, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA; e-mail [email protected]; telephone 301-251-0560, ext. 117. 2 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 People

Chandler Elected to National Academy of Sciences

ASPB President Vicki Chandler, a University Chandler earned her under- ment of Molecular and Cellu- of Arizona plant molecular biologist and ge- graduate degree in biochemis- lar Biology. She was recently ap- neticist known for her pioneering work in try from the University of Cali- pointed associate director of the clarifying the mechanisms of gene regulation fornia at Berkeley (1978). She newly formed Institute for Bio- in maize, was elected to the National Acad- holds a doctorate in biochem- medical Science and Biotechnol- emy of Sciences on April 30, 2002. istry from the University of ogy (IBSB) at the university. In “I have top-notch people in my lab,” California, San Francisco addition to her research, Chan- Chandler said, “a lot of great students. And I (1983), and was a National Sci- dler teaches advanced genetics have had three exceptional professors as men- ence Foundation postdoctoral fellow in the courses for graduate students. tors along the way: Keith Yamamoto at UC Department of Biology at Stanford Univer- Among Chandler’s numerous affiliations, San Francisco, Virginia Walbot at Stanford sity from 1983 to 1985. From 1985 to 1997, she is on the board of trustees for the Gor- University, and Randy Schekman at UC Ber- she moved through the professorial ranks in don Research Conferences (1997–2003) and keley. All have been very influential in my the department and the Institute of Molecu- is past chair of that board. In addition to serv- training as a scientist.” lar Biology at the University of Oregon in ing as president of the American Society of Chandler has spent 17 years studying the Eugene. Plant Biologists, she is active in the Genetics mechanisms that turn genes on and off in maize. In 1997, she continued her work at the Society and International Society of Plant Bi- She uses methods based on molecular genetics University of Arizona, where she is a professor ology, where she served on the board of di- and classical Mendelian genetics to figure out in the Department of Plant Sciences and a mem- rectors. She is also on the Biological Direc- how genes regulate one another when they ber of the Interdisciplinary Program in Genet- torate Advisory Committee of the National communicate in the nucleus of the cell. ics. She has a joint appointment in the Depart- Science Foundation.

Donald L. Keister Retires in July Dr. Donald L. Keister, plant physiologist at ergy source for energy-linked reactions. In the Arthur Galston Is the Beltsville Agricultural Research Service, area of nitrogen fixation, he co-discovered USDA/ARS in Beltsville, Maryland, will re- nitrogen fixation in free-living rhizobia. ISI Highly Cited tire in July after 43 years of research in plant He joined the Agricultural Research Service Researcher physiology and microbiology. He is a long- in Beltsville in 1984 as research leader of the Nitrogen Fixation and Soybean Genetics Lab time member of ASPB. He received his M.S. ASPB member and former Society (currently the Soybean Genomics and Improve- and Ph.D. degrees from the University of president Arthur Galston, Eaton Pro- ment Lab) and has continued to contribute to Maryland in 1959. His postdoctoral work fessor of Botany, Emeritus, Yale Uni- the elucidation of symbiotic plant–microbe in- was at The Johns Hopkins University with versity, has been honored by the In- teractions, including the role of microbial cy- Dr. Anthony San Pietro. He worked with Dr. stitute of Scientific Information (ISI) tochromes and cyclic b-glucans. He has con- Bessel Kok at the Research Institute for Ad- as one of the most highly cited, influ- tributed more than 100 peer-reviewed journal vanced Studies and then moved to The ential researchers in the field of plant articles, book chapters, and reviews. Recently, Charles F. Kettering Research Laboratory, science. where he worked on microbial photosynthe- he has served as acting associate director and sis. He is internationally recognized for his director of the Plant Sciences Institute at the work on energy-linked reactions. Several Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. original discoveries from this period included Dr. Keister is looking forward to more time the mechanism of pyridine nucleotide reduc- for travel, sports, reading, and visiting col- tion in photosynthetic bacteria and the utili- leagues and would enjoy hearing from you. zation of inorganic pyrophosphate as an en- You can reach him at [email protected].

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 3 Perspective

Why Don’t We Grow More Crops? Diversity of Crop Species and Cropping Systems

The rapid developments in agriculture in There are a number of important spe- ing potential of bambara groundnut. The the first half of the 20th century were cies that can be considered underutilized, Tropical Crops Research Unit of the Uni- transformed in the second half by what ranging from fruits such as jackfruit to versity of Nottingham (United Kingdom) became known as the “Green Revolu- field crops such as bambara groundnut. has conducted detailed research on tion.” The advantages of potentially higher Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea bambara groundnut since 1988. More de- yielding varieties combined with better (L.) Verdc) is an indigenous grain legume tails on bambara groundnut research can methods of growing, fertilizing, and har- grown mainly by subsistence women farm- be obtained from Dr. Sayed Azam-Ali, vesting them encouraged adoption of ers in drier parts of sub-Saharan Africa. University of Nottingham (sayed.azam- “Green Revolution Technology” by most Its seeds can be eaten fresh (when semi- [email protected]), who is the direc- farmers in the developed world. The very ripe) or as a pulse (when dry and mature) tor of the unit. The following web sites fact that global food production has kept or can be ground into flour. Its common are also important sources of information pace with the demands of an increasing English name derives from the Bambara on bambara groundnut: http://www. population is largely a credit to Green tribe that now lives mainly in Mali. How- genres.de/bambara and http://www.edv. Revolution advocates and practitioners. ever, its center of origin is thought to be agrar.tu-muenchen.de/pbpz/bambara/ However, the Green Revolution has not from the Jos plateau and Yola regions of html/index.htm. been successful everywhere, and its adop- Northern Nigeria through to Garua in Bambara groundnut is just one ex- tion has resulted in a loss of diversity, both Cameroon and possibly as far as the Cen- ample of those underutilized species that in crop species and forms of management. tral African Republic. For many centuries have recently received research attention. It has also meant that we now rely on a bambara groundnut has been cultivated We believe many more will, given current narrow range of crop species for virtually in tropical Africa, south of the Sahara. understanding of the need for agricultural all our global food requirements. Africa However, slaves also took the crop to biodiversity. Perhaps the most important may have benefited the least from this re- Surinam, and it has been found in small achievement for those advocating the duction in global agricultural diversity quantities in South and Central America, wider recognition of underutilized crops compared to other regions where impor- India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philip- is the fact that the potential contribution tant crop species have their centers of di- pines, Sri Lanka, and parts of Northern of underutilized crops to food security, im- versity—e.g., wheat from Asia, maize from Australia. proved human health, and biodiversity South America, and rice from Indo Burma. Research on bambara groundnut is a conservation was recognized by the Glo- Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, is rare example of a multidisciplinary, inter- bal Forum on Agricultural Research therefore increasingly reliant on the selec- national effort to study and assess the po- (GFAR) and Consultative Group on In- tion and adaptation of germplasm from tential of an underutilized crop. Since ternational Agricultural Research elsewhere in the world and by external 1988, scientists in four European coun- (CGIAR) in their meetings in Germany in agencies for the bulk of its agricultural pro- tries—United Kingdom, the Netherlands, 2000. I have no doubt that the more duction. It could be argued that the sub- Germany, and Italy—have joined forces people know about the importance of sistence sector in Africa should seek an al- with scientists, growers, traders, and con- underutilized crop species, the more ternative strategy, one aimed at develop- sumers in Botswana, Tanzania, Sierra chance we stand of improving the produc- ing the potential of presently underutilized Leone, Swaziland, Namibia, and Zimba- tivity of these species. indigenous species and management sys- bwe to work on this indigenous African tems. In many cases these species and sys- legume. Together, their efforts provide a Festo J. Massawe tems have survived despite agricultural re- comprehensive assessment of the ecophysi- Tropical Crops Research Unit search and extension agencies, largely ology, agronomy, nutritional biochemis- University of Nottingham through the tenacity of the crops and com- try, agroprocessing, genetics, and market- [email protected] mitment of the growers.

4 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Perspective

Unfinished Business Agent Orange in Vietnam

From March 3 to 7, 2002, an international personnel and materiel from the North to arose as byproducts of the synthesis of conference of predominantly American regions of the South in which military ac- 2,4,5-T. This herbicide is usually synthe- and Vietnamese scientists gathered in tivity was occurring. Once these activities sized from 2,4,5-trichlophenol and halo- Hanoi under the auspices of the National were revealed, they were subjected to aerial genated acetic acid under alkaline condi- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences interdiction. Under the code name Opera- tions. When the reaction goes as planned, (NIEHS, part of NIH) and its Vietnamese tion Ranch Hand, groups of four cargo the phenolic and acetic acid moieties counterpart organization to examine the planes outfitted with tanks and spraying couple to form the desired product; but environmental and public health conse- booms would fly in formation over vast when two of the phenolic moieties couple quences of the massive use of Agent Or- areas of upland forest and later over man- in a head-to-tail fashion, they form the ange during the Vietnam War. I was asked grove communities lining the estuaries be- unwanted highly toxic side products called to join the American delegation, and at low Saigon, releasing a spray of the herbi- dioxins, of which 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-para the end of the conference, also served as cide that defoliated trees after several days. dibenzodioxin (TCDD) is the most toxic. co-chairman with Vo Quy, a distinguished Some areas received multiple spray treat- This compound is highly teratogenic and ecologist from the University of Hanoi, of ment, resulting in considerable killing. probably carcinogenic to rodents and an additional smaller convocation of ap- By the time the operation was brought probably humans in the parts-per-trillion propriate botanists and environmentalists to a halt by President Nixon in 1970, it range. Since the aerial spray of Agent Or- to plan for future cooperative international had become the largest chemical warfare ange drifted over populated areas, it con- activities. At the end of all sessions, offi- operation in history, having covered an taminated people, water, and food, pro- cials of both countries signed a memoran- area equivalent to two-thirds of the state ducing still largely uncharacterized dam- dum of understanding, spelling out con- of Massachusetts. The ecological damage age. It is known that soil around former ditions under which such cooperative ac- resulting from the operation was vast; in airbases like Da Nang are still grossly con- tivities might be undertaken. These devel- the upland forest regions, many valuable taminated with dangerous levels of diox- opments followed establishment of formal timber trees such as teak were killed, and ins and that various levels of TCDD have diplomatic relations between the two the area they had occupied was taken over been detected in people, fish, plant materi- countries in 1995, and the conclusion of largely by a mixture of scrub bamboo and als, and soil. Obviously, there is much ana- a trade treaty within the last year. noxious weeds such as wire grass and lytical and remediation work to be done This meeting represented one of the Imperata grass. Mangrove communities in both the ecological and public health first actions taken by the United States to proved remarkably sensitive to the herbi- fields, but whether such work will be un- recognize the existence of continuing prob- cide, a single spray resulting in almost dertaken depends on the extent to which lems resulting from our aerial distribution complete killing. In view of the importance further activities will be funded by NIEHS. of the formulated abscission-inducing and of mangroves in the life cycles of fish and It would seem appropriate for the herbicidal mixture of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T shellfish, one of the main protein sources American Society of Plant Biologists, as that became known as Agent Orange. The for the Vietnamese people, this damage part of its public activities agenda, to lend development of such herbicides and defo- was serious. Neither mangrove nor upland active support to efforts to promote such liants resulted directly from fundamental forest communities have recovered sub- investigation and remediation. investigations on plant hormones, espe- stantially in the quarter century that has cially auxin, performed mainly by plant elapsed since the end of the war, despite Arthur W. Galston physiologists. The defoliation campaign, energetic but poorly funded interventions Eaton Professor of Botany Emeritus which lasted from about 1964 to 1970, by the Vietnamese. Department of Molecular, Cellular and was undertaken primarily to reveal mili- Public health considerations became Development Biology tary activities along the Ho Chi Minh apparent after the discovery that Agent Or- Yale University New Haven, CT 06520-8103 Trail, a network of pathways used to ferry ange was contaminated by dioxins that

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 5 Membership Corner

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

members of this Society, and my mem- other educational and scientific opportu- bership allows me to be considered within nities. Finally, the perks of membership, that elite group. Participation in ASPB such as electronic access to Plant Physiol- events allows me to interact with these ogy and The Plant Cell and online features professionals and to share my work and like CiteTrack (the electronic personal re- ideas. The professional bar I’ve set for search alerting service), are resources that myself is based in no small part on the will quickly become something that you ideals reflected by the Society, its publi- can't believe you ever lived without. Name: STEPHEN EBBS cations, and its members. 5. Have you gotten a job using ASPB job Title: Assistant Professor 3. Was anyone instrumental in getting you postings or through networking at the Place of work or school: Department of to join ASPB? meeting? Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University, My doctoral adviser, Leon Kochian, paid Although I have not gotten a job directly Carbondale for my first trip to the Society’s annual as a result of an ASPB posting, I think Research area: Plant physiology, phyto- meeting in Madison (1998) and was prob- my membership and participation in remediation ably the person who recommended me ASPB had a definite impact on the search Member since: 1998 for a free membership that year. The pre- committee that hired me for my current 1. Has being a member helped you in vious year, my first year in his lab, my position. your career? If so, how? colleagues attended the meeting but I did 6. Have you hired anyone as a result of a Being a member of ASPB has definitely not. I was admittedly jealous when I heard job posting at the annual meeting, on helped my career. First and foremost, them talking about how good it was. our online Job Bank, or in the I have formed and maintained valu- When Leon took me to the meeting the newsletter? able professional relationships following year, I finally understood what Not yet, but ASPB would be the first place through ASPB meetings that have led everyone was talking about. Because of I would look. to important collaborative opportu- this experience, I nominated two of my nities. In addition, my paper and own students this year for complimentary 7. Do still read print journals? Where do poster presentations at meetings have memberships in ASPB. you usually read them: work, home, raised my visibility among scientific library, in the car, on the bus? 4. What would you tell nonmembers to peers, which is extremely important All my journals are electronic, from Plant encourage them to join? for a young scientist like myself. Fi- Physiology and The Plant Cell to my year- There are three benefits that I would stress nally, I have benefited from the mon- end CD-ROM copies of other society to a potential member: contacts, oppor- etary support provided by ASPB, be- journals. When I do read papers from tunities, and resources. Membership and ginning with the complimentary these journals, it is usually at home in the participation in ASPB meetings provide a membership that first introduced me evening or while I’m traveling. venue to establish professional contacts, to the Society, to a travel grant to some of which you may not even realize 8. What do you think is the next “big present my first paper at the San Di- you need until the circumstance arises. Sec- thing” in plant biology? ego meeting in 2000, to other useful ond, these interactions and contacts will I think the next big thing in plant biology opportunities. almost certainly provide important profes- will be the effort to demonstrate the safety 2. Why has being a member of ASPB sional opportunities, including the oppor- of transgenic plants. The justification for been important? tunity for students and young faculty to many scientific efforts is to understand Nearly all the scientists I hold in high present papers alongside established ex- and to increase plant tolerance, resistance, esteem as experts in plant biology are perts, travel support for meetings, and growth, and productivity for human ben-

6 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 efit. Yet large segments of the world’s popu- CALL FOR APPLICATIONS lation resist these efforts, and we cannot yet allay all their concerns. If we are to use American Philosophical Society Research Grants biotechnology to help mankind, I think we Information and forms for all the society’s programs (grants are not restricted to need to listen to these questions and re- philosophy) can be downloaded from our web site, http://www.amphilsoc.org. Click spond accordingly, balancing caution on “Grants” on the homepage. Click on “About the APS” to learn more about the against the world’s more immediate needs. APS Research Programs. 9. What person, living or dead, do you Grants are made for research only. The society makes no grants for academic most admire? study or classroom presentation; for travel to conferences or workshops; for non- I would say I most admire the authors scholarly projects; or for assistance with publication or translation. J.R.R. Tolkien and Frank Herbert. These Eligibility men created entire universes in which they Applicants may be residents of the United States or American citizens resident abroad. immersed themselves. These worlds have Foreign nationals whose research can be carried out only in the United States are a magnetism of their own that continues eligible. Grants are made to individuals; institutions are not eligible to apply. Specific to draw people in. The men and their cre- requirements are given under each listing. ations inspire individuals to think, ques- tion, and explore for themselves—first in Application Forms these fictional worlds and then in the real If forms cannot be downloaded from the web site, they may be requested by one. These authors had a tremendous e-mail as Word documents or by mail; be sure to include impact on me when I was growing up and • indication of eligibility for the program influenced the creativity and analytical • nature of the research (e.g., archival, laboratory, fieldwork) abilities I use every day. • proposed use of the funds (e.g., travel, purchase of microfilm). 10. What are you reading these days? Foreign nationals must state the objects of their research, available ONLY in the I make an effort to skim through Plant United States. Questions concerning the eligibility of a project or the use of funds are Physiology, Chemical and Engineering accepted at 215-440-3429. News, and the articles picked up by CiteTrack and my e-mail alerts. We use Committee on Research articles from Plant Physiology and The American Philosophical Society Plant Cell every semester in a seminar 104 South 5th Street course in my department, so I read those Philadelphia, PA 19106 articles as well. I also reread at least one The e-mail address for grants inquiries is [email protected]; include a postal Tolkien or Herbert book each year for address with your query. relaxation and inspiration. BRIEF INFORMATION about Franklin Research Grants Eligibility 11. Do you have any hobbies? Applicants are normally expected to have a doctorate or to have published work of When I have the time, I like to read, watch doctoral character and quality. Predoctoral students are not eligible, but the society sci-fi movies, and play computer games. is especially interested in supporting the work of young scholars who have recently I also try to spend as much time with my received a doctorate. The program is designed to help meet the cost of travel to kids as possible. libraries and archives for research purposes, the purchase of microfilm, and the costs 12. What is your most treasured possession? associated with fieldwork or laboratory research expenses. A first edition, autographed hardbound The program does not accept proposals for journalistic writing; for the prepara- novel by Carl Sagan. tion of textbooks or teaching aids; or for the work of creative and performing artists.

13. What do you still have left to learn? Maximum Award: $6,000 Patience (particularly with students) and Deadlines: October 1, December 1 how to say no. Decisions are reached in late January and in March. Information updated: May 2002

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 7 Using the New HighWire Portal How to Find Full-Text Articles and Tailor Your Search Results

The May/June 2002 issue of the ASPB nals used as citations News introduced you to the new HighWire in Plant Physiology, Library of the Sciences and Medicine Por- whether or not you or tal. The portal allows free access to re- your institution has a search literature in the biological sciences subscription. That and medicine. That’s over 430,000 free, means that from the full-text research articles published by the Jander articles you can 330+ HighWire journals, including Plant link immediately to Physiology and The Plant Cell. cited articles if they In this issue of the News, we want to tell say [Full Text] in you how to quickly find full-text articles and the online reference tailor your search results. section. If you’d like to FINDING FULL-TEXT ARTICLES know which High- Wire-based journals Once you have done a search in the new your institution has HighWire portal, the search result page con- subscribed to, go to tains a wealth of information. Invaluable to the HighWire home researchers is the ability to quickly find full- page and click on In- text articles to which you can gain immedi- stitutional Subscrip- ate online access. tions; if you are inter- We decided to search for any recent ar- ested in which journals ticles by Georg Jander on Arabidopsis clon- make back articles free ing. Here’s the URL: to the world, click on Free Back Issues on the home page; and if you • Sort the result: The default sort for the http://highwire.stanford.edu/cgi/ are interested in which journals’ articles are search engine shows you “best matches,” searchresults?andorexactfulltext=and& available for online purchase, click on Pay meaning those articles in which your resourcetype=1&author1=jander%2C+g& Per View. search terms showed up most frequently. fulltext=arabidopsis+cloning&jc_favj=pnas% Clicking on “newest first” will reorder 2Cjbc%2Cjoces%2Cbioinfo%2Cbmj%2Csci your search result by date. %2Cjnci%2Cbiosts&src=hw&disp_type= TAILORING YOUR SEARCH RESULTS • See more per page: By default, the search The search results return a list of several ar- The search result pages in the new portal let engine shows you 10 items on each page. ticles by Jander concerning Arabidopsis clon- you easily change your view of the results. You can ask for 25, 40, 60, or 80 results ing. With each citation, an image of the cover Let’s look at how to amend, sort, condense, per page by clicking on the appropriate of Plant Physiology appears, along with links investigate, and download search results. number. to the abstract, full-text article, and PDF. From the Jander search results, look at the Condense the result: The standard form for Underneath the cover image, you’ll see a block top portion of the search result page to see each citation provides a lot of information, of text telling you whether the article is free your available options. The top section of the such as a full list of authors, full citation in- to you, because your institution has purchased page makes it easy to adjust your result: formation, which section of a journal an ar- a subscription; free, because the publisher has • Amend the result: Your search terms are ticle is in, whether the article is a review, and made the article free to anyone on the Internet; pre-entered for you in the Quick Search so on. The “condensed” option displays all or available for purchase, which means you box. You can add or replace terms there the basic citation information you’d find in a can pay with a credit card and get immediate and click “go” or change the scope of your reference list and takes up only a quarter of access to the full text. search from (as shown in this example) the the space! As a reader of Plant Physiology full-text 330+ highly cited journals whose full text articles, you’ll get free access to the full text is found at HighWire, to include all of the Working from results: The portal lets you click of more than 330 other HighWire-based jour- journals found in MEDLINE. on a link in a search result and go to an

8 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 abstract or PDF by opening a new browser vided to be sure everything is set up for an citations will come up in a separate win- window without losing your search result. automatic transfer. You can also download dow. Each abstract includes a full cita- And, by clicking in the checkbox to the left an individual article’s citation/abstract to a tion and a link to full text. As you review of any citation, then clicking the appropriate reference manager when you are viewing it pages of search results, you can accumu- radio button under the box labeled “For in a HighWire-based journal site, includ- late possible candidate articles to evalu- checked items,” you can do more with any ing The Plant Cell and Plant Physiology ate further by checkmarking them. Then article in a search result: (look for the “Download to Citation Man- you can read through the abstracts all at • Download each checked item to your lo- ager” link in the right-hand content box once, print them, or click through to full cal citation manager database: You can when viewing the abstract or full-text of the text. article). quickly add citations and abstracts to your In the September/October issue of the database in EndNote, ProCite, and Refer- • Expand each checked item to its abstract: ASPB News, we’ll look at how you can per- ence Manager. Online instructions are pro- A web page of abstracts for the selection sonalize your favorite journals.

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 9 Foothills Footnote

Reflections on a Landscape

More than 20 years ago, I went from a small Colorado, where the front range of the Rocky town in rural Wisconsin to live for a year in Mountains meets the eastern plains, and I was Costa Rica. I lived for a time in the montane again struck by the enormity of the change in cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota, where the landscape. Although I have always loved the Savegre River descends in sparkling cas- the alpine meadows and ragged peaks of the cades from the divide of the Sierra Talamanca high mountains, I wondered if I would ever through a verdant forest. Unlike the aston- get used to—much less grow to appreciate— ishing diversity of trees in the tropical low- the foothills landscape, which on first inspec- land forest, perhaps 90 percent of trees in the tion appeared as an incredibly barren, almost lope graze in the sagebrush, and endless grass- montane cloud forest here are oaks. They are entirely brown near desert. I remember climb- lands roll along as far as the eye can see. of the same genus, Quercus, as oaks of my ing to a local highpoint, Horsetooth Rock, I have also enjoyed designing the landscape homeland, but unlike my oaks, they are enor- looking east across the plains in April, and of our new garden. Rather than planting my mously tall and virtually evergreen with thinking oh my God... this is a desert! ...there favorite Eastern trees and shrubs, such as glossy, elongate, unlobed leaves, and they drip is almost nothing green here... can I possibly flowering dogwood, redbud, and azalea, we with vines and bromeliads accented here and enjoy living here? As if to emphasize the point, chose local natives, such as Colorado blue there by the bright colors of trogons and calls we then chose to live on the western edge of spruce, western river birch, and quaking as- of the resplendent quetzal. From this forest, I town, up against the barren foothills, with pen. We maintain a minimal lawn area and went to live for several months in Colorado, the prairie dogs—and no trees. No trees?! plant the rest with low-water-use rock-gar- and I remember thinking that, with respect What a pleasant surprise, then, to find over den and prairie perennials. Looking back on to the landscape, living in Colorado was a the past two years that I have not just gotten my history of landscapes, it is no surprise that much bigger change for me—coming origi- used to this landscape, I have actually fallen some of the first trees I planted here were oaks. nally from the Wisconsin countryside—than in love with it. Almost daily I have gone for Appropriately for this landscape, they are it had been to live in the montane forest of runs along trails in the foothills; runs punc- Gambel oaks (Quercus gambelii), a lovely Costa Rica. Although the details changed dra- tuated by frequent walking breaks as I have small tree that is native to the central Rocky matically, the overall aspect of forest and field stopped to become better acquainted with the Mountains. These two little trees have taken in San Gerardo (oak forests, no less, and fields flora and fauna of my new home. I love the root and this spring produced a fine crop of with Holstein cows, bordered by apple many different muted shades of browns and their delicate, light green, lobed leaves. We orchards) did not seem incredibly foreign reds and grays (and yes, even greens) of the are at home in the Colorado foothills, the compared to the fields and forests of central foothills and grasslands. I almost feel that I Gambel oaks and me. Wisconsin. have come to see colors more distinctly, and I Nan Eckardt Two years ago I again moved from a lush take more notice of colors in the landscape News and Reviews Editor green countryside populated largely with oaks wherever I go. I especially love to drive north The Plant Cell [email protected] —this time that of central Pennsylvania—to and east to the high plains, where the ante-

New URL for Southern Section

The web page for the Southern Section has been changed to correspond to the section’s adoption of the name change to “Plant Biologists.” Please make a note that the old URL will be discontinued in Septem- ber and update your bookmark to http://www.ss-aspb.org.

10 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 ASPB Welcomes New Postdocs and Students! ASPB and the Membership Committee welcome the postdocs and students who were nominated by their professors for outstanding work in the field of plant biology. ASPB hopes to support the hard work and dedication of these young scientists for years to come.

Biswa Ranjan Acharya Michele Engel Yasuhiro Kadota Abeer Mohamed Kara M. Shaffer Ana Raquel Adham Jeffrey J. Esch Udaya C. Kalluri Michael Molhoj Michael B. Sheahan Elizabeth A. Ainsworth Francisco Espinoza Akihiko Kamoshita Foad Moradi Jason A. Shockey Ali Alan Inmaculada Farran Tesfamichael H. Kebrom Rosa Maria Morcuende Najeeb U. Siddiqui Jolana Albrechtova Alicia Fernandez-San Millan Armen Kemanian Anil Neelam Lyudmila Sidorenko Ahmad Ali Simone Ferrari Miura Kenji Weimin Ni Tahere A. Sigari Rahhamani Anandalakshmi Saul F. Fraire Anthony Kern Marusa Pompe Novak Stacey A. Simon Maria Cecilia Arias Kirk E. Francis Ben R. Kiefel Dietrich Ober Jaswinder Singh Angela Augusti Chiushi Fu Eunsoo Kim Yoko Ogasawara Vaniyambadi V. Sridhar Rosa Maria Barroco Yuri Fujikawa Sunran Kim Damian P. O'Neill Suryadevara Srinivasa Rao Cornelius S. Barry Daniel Fulop Tae-Houn Kim Javier F. Palatnik Dan Stessman Michele Bellucci Rafaelo M. Galvao Wonseok Kim Jutta Papenbrock Lucia C. Strader Catherine Bermudez-Kandianis Walter Giordano Tadashi Kishimoto Alice Jean Paquette Jayasankar Subramanian Magdalena Bezanilla Bridgit M. Goldman Barbara Koehler Ronald L Parsons Michael L. Sullivan Sanghamitra Bhattacharyya Diego F. Gomez-Casati Priyum Koonjul Jean-Benoit Mp Peltier Francisco R. Tadeo Sophia Biemelt Kenji Gomi Olga Ruiz Kopp Iris B. Perez-Almeida Ruhang Tang Kenneth D. Birnbaum Michael M. Goodin Mark Krasnow Daniel G. Peterson Brian J. Thorson Terrence Bissoondial Christopher Dean Goodman Khrish Kumaar Fabrizio Pietrini Yonathan Tilahun Leila Blackman Abbie Gosselink Vinod Kumar Paola Pinelli Jorge A. Tognetti Frederik Bornke Ravinder K. Goyal Boney Kuriakose P.V. Vara Prasad Carolina A. Torres Toby Bradshaw Rachel Green Sam Kuruvilla Chunbo Qin Shilpa K. Uchil Robert C. Bugos Johann Grelet Myoung-ok Kwon Sheng Quan Helene Vanacker Kim Burhenne Mengjuan Guo Hunter K. C. Laidlaw Pauline E. Quesnelle Wim Van Den Ende Jason L. Burkhead Woei-jiun Guo Eric B. Lalanne Rena Quinlan Christell Van Der Vyver Leeann E. Chandler Serdar A. Gurses Julien Lartigue Samina N. Qureshi Sigrid Elisabeth Von Gesjen Rekha Chawla Jameel M. Haddad Johann Lavaud Surabhi Raina Wim H. Vriezen Li-Ru Chen Sheng-Cheng Han Anthony V. Lebude Balsubramanian Ramani Tanya R. Wallas Yih-Lin Chen Tianfu Han Danika LeDuc Rebekah A. Rampey Guanfang Wang Yi-Jiun Chen Gregory N. Harrington Hsiao-ching Lee Candace D. Randall Jun Wasaki Hyunsub Cheong Richard P. Haslam Yuh-Ru Lee Latha Rangan Chi-Kuang Wen Injeong Cho Adil Hassan Dominika Lewandowska Fawzi Razem Jonathan D. Werner Vern E. Collette Daniel M. Hayden Maoyin Li Thomas H. Roberts Tim C. Wherrett Sandra Cortes Isabelle M. Henry Weiqi Li Whitney R. Robertson Craig Wm. Whippo Leonardo Curatti Ismael Hernandez-Rios Xiaoe Liang Miruna Roman Neil R. Williams Christian Dammann David Hieber Jiang Xiong Liao Maria C. Romero-Puertas Matthias Wissuwa Sasha M. Daskalova Katsumi Higashi Igor Gl Libourel Sergio Rosales Andrew W. Woodward Christopher D. Day Joanna N. Hodson Melisa Lim Caleb Rounds Ruqiang Xu Bas Dekkers Kevin C. Hollis Olivier Loudet Leila G. Rubia Bing Yang Desiree Den Os Ben Holt Alyson M. Mack Linda A. Rymarquis Hiroshi Yoda Claudia R. B. De Souza Yueyun Hong Claudia Magioli Benjamin K. Samson Maria Ines Zanor Claudia Diaz Guichuan Hou Enrico Magnani Anita Samuga C Ryan Zarter Tzvetanka D. Dinkova Wei Hu Manoj Majee Renuka P. Sankaran Qisen Zhang Veronica S. Di Stilio Andre O. Hudson Alicia J. Manfre May Santiago-Ong Wei Zhang Scott Douglas Domingo J. Iglesias Amanda Mangeon Chiradeep Sarkar Wenhua Zhang Faping Duan Ignacio Islas-Flores Andrew J. Marry Ruairidh J. Sawers Xiaohong Zhang Tim Dumonceaux Guru Jagadeeswaran Manuel Martinez-Estevez Nikolaus L. Schlaich Min Zhao Ekrem Dundar Maria Alejandra Jaramillo John McKay Andres Schuetzenduebel Zhiying Zhao Anjusha Durbarry Jeeyon Jeong Fletcher Meyer Cheryl L. Scott Zhe Zhou Frederic D. Duval Pamela Jha Kimura Mitsuhiro Deborah J. Scott Branka D. Zivanovic Volker Ebbert Lone Josefsen Eriko M. Miura Giovanni Sena Ruth Elena Ele Soria Izabela Maria Juszczuk Christina Mladek Laura Serna

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 11 Public Affairs

Congressional Exhibition and Reception on NSF-Sponsored Research Features ASPB Exhibit on Lowering Food Allergies

NSF Director Rita Colwell, two members of In discussions with Colwell, Lemaux sequent communications and meetings with Congress, and a number of congressional staff traced the background of years of basic re- congressional staff and Executive Branch of- visited the ASPB poster exhibit at the annual search sponsored by NSF on thioredoxin that ficials as appropriate. For example, the NRI Congressional Exhibition and Reception led to this unexpected discovery related to also contributed to support of this research sponsored by the Coalition for National Sci- lowering food allergies. Lemaux discussed related to lowering food allergies with ence Funding (CNSF) May 15 in the Rayburn hands-on displays, including wheat, teosinte, thioredoxin. ASPB staff provided a copy of House Office Building. strings of beads representing genes, and other the brochure “T(rx) Cereals: Lowering Food The ASPB poster and related color bro- items with visitors. Allergies with Thioredoxin” to Rodney chure, “T(rx) Cereals: Lowering Food Aller- There were more than 30 poster exhibi- Brown, deputy undersecretary of Department gies with Thioredoxin,” explained research tors at this exhibition, primarily representing of Agriculture Research, Education and Eco- conducted by Committee on Public Affairs science societies and universities. The program nomics, during a May 30 meeting. chair Peggy Lemaux and past president Bob with the list of exhibitors can be found at With anti-biotech interests making asser- Buchanan, both of the University of Califor- http://www.cnsfweb.org/exprogram02.pdf. tions related to allergen risks in modified nia at Berkeley. The brochure can be found Photos of the exhibition can be found at foods, Lemaux and Buchanan’s research of- on the ASPB web site at www.aspb.org in the http://www.cnsfweb.org/photos-ex2002.pdf fers an example of how, instead, biotechnol- plant biotechnology section. Barbara Alonso, with pictures of Peggy Lemaux and Dr. ogy can be applied to inactivate allergens that also at UC-Berkeley, prepared the poster and Colwell at #65 and #66. would otherwise be found in a traditionally brochure with Lemaux and Buchanan. This was the eighth annual CNSF congres- bred food crop. Lemaux explained this NSF-sponsored re- sional exhibition, and ASPB has participated search to attendees who visited the ASPB in each one. Again this year, ASPB had the booth, including Colwell; Congressman Bob only plant science exhibit there. The event Etheridge (D-NC) of both the Science Com- provides an opportunity to explain the im- mittee and the Agriculture Committee; Con- portance of leading research sponsored by gresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA); Joel Widder, NSF to congressional offices in a relatively majority staff on the Senate VA, HUD and festive reception setting. This is the major re- Independent Agencies Subcommittee (which ception and exhibi- annually determines spending for NSF); and tion of the year for Peggy Lemaux other congressional staff. NSF on the Hill, and (left) and Rita Widder, who had visited Lemaux’s lab a the ASPB Public Af- Colwell, director few months earlier to review major NSF re- fairs Office helped of the National Science Foundation search programs such as plant genome re- initiate this popular search, remarked that he was impressed with event about eight the research. Capps said that as a former nurse years ago. she certainly recognized the importance of re- Brochures devel- search that inactivates allergens and leads to oped for the exhibits safer foods. Capps offered to provide any as- in this and past years Peggy Lemaux and Joel Widder of the sistance that she could. are also used in sub- Senate Appropriations Committee staff

12 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Public Affairs

AAAS Representative Responds Favorably to ASPB, AIBS on Question of Balance

Some representatives of physical sciences in- physical sciences at various federal agencies. “life sciences” masks the divergent trends for terests, particularly in the area of physics, have (See related story on NSF Budget Authoriza- the biomedical sciences and natural biology. been conducting a campaign for “more bal- tion on page 15 of this issue.) He said he would work with RAND, a non- ance” in federal funding. Citing a doubling ASPB and the American Institute of Bio- profit institution that addresses policy and of funding for life sciences research supported logical Sciences (AIBS) contacted the Ameri- decision making through research analysis, by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), can Association for the Advancement of Sci- and PCAST to make the links between agency the physical sciences campaign for “more ence (AAAS) on the need to present federal funding decisions and impacts on science dis- balance” argues that federal support for physi- budget analyses that distinguish trends in fed- ciplines very clear to show varying degrees of cal sciences research has been somewhat scant eral funding for biomedical research from life federal support within the life sciences. by comparison. sciences research in other areas. For example, While ASPB has commended Congress for However, the “more balance” campaign is AAAS is providing input to the President’s its strong support of NIH, it would be incor- arguably less than collegial in design, and it Council of Advisors on Science and Technol- rect to say that federal support for all life sci- wrongly includes targeting of non-biomedical ogy (PCAST) assessing the federal investment ences research has increased at the level of life sciences. The campaign has the potential in science and technology R&D. biomedical research. ASPB and AIBS are to unfairly divert support for non-biomedical Kei Koizumi of the AAAS R&D Budget and working with other life sciences groups on life sciences research, which has not been on Policy Program responded to ASPB and AIBS further actions needed to seek more fairness a doubling track, to research programs in the that he agrees that the catch-all category of in assessing the “more balance” campaign.

Enacted Farm Bill Includes ASPB-Supported Provision on Risk Assessment

The enacted Farm Bill includes a provision risks in genetically modified crops, but also balanced and accurate information for on biotechnology risk assessment research at how these risks compare with risks associ- consumers, farmers and policymakers supported by ASPB. The provision not only ated with other crops. to consider.” addresses risks that might be posed by plants As Senate and House Conference members The Joint Explanatory Statement of the and animals that are products of agricultural were considering the Farm Bill, ASPB Presi- Conference Committee notes that “The con- biotechnology, but also looks at comparative dent Vicki Chandler wrote to House and Sen- ference substitute adopts the House provision risks of these products with traditionally bred ate members who were heading up the con- with an amendment adding genetically engi- plants and animals. ference and noted the following: neered microorganisms as a priority topic for Senate and House Conference members ac- “With regard to the issue of risk as- risk assessment research, including interna- cepted this broader provision addressing com- sessment, ASPB supports House Agri- tional partnerships on bio-safety as a research parative risks approved by the House. The culture Committee Report Section 747 priority and reducing the amount withheld conference agreement on the Farm Bill was on Biotechnology Risk Assessment Re- from biotechnology research funding [for later approved by Congress. search. This provision takes the needed risk assessment research] from 3 percent to 2 ASPB Public Affairs staff had worked with holistic approach to risk assessment,” percent.” House Committee staff in addressing the ques- Chandler commented in the letter. “A President Bush signed the Farm Bill, and it tion of comparative risks early in the draft- comparative analysis between biotech- became Public Law 107-171 on May 13, ing stages of the Farm Bill. Discussions in an nology systems and other production 2002. earlier meeting of the Committee on Public systems, as provided in the House pro- Affairs had cited the need to look not only at vision, will provide more complete,

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 13 Public Affairs

House Approves Bill Supporting Research on Plant Genomes, Plant Biotechnology

The House of Representatives approved on plications of biotechnology. Following is Johnson (D-TX). “By working with their col- May 14 Congressman Nick Smith’s (R-MI) the news release that the committee issued leagues in developing countries, U.S. scien- tists will not only help strengthen the scien- legislation (H.R. 2051) to develop regional May 14 after House passage of the bill: tific capacity of developing countries but will plant genome research centers and includes ensure that the basic research that is per- WASHINGTON, DC—The House today Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s formed on developing world crops focuses approved legislation by voice vote that would (D-TX) proposal to promote research part- on what developing countries perceive their strengthen research into plant biotechnology. own needs to be. It was my pleasure to work nerships to study plant biotechnology in The bill establishes a program through the with Chairman Boehlert, Ranking Member the developing world. National Science Foundation to develop re- Hall, and Subcommittee Chairman Nick ASPB president Vicki Chandler, Com- gional plant genome research centers. Addi- Smith on this bipartisan legislation that tionally, the legislation would promote re- mittee on Public Affairs member Daphne makes an important contribution to address search partnerships to study plant biotech- Preuss, past president and past Commit- the critical problems of hunger, malnutrition, nology in the developing world. and disease in the developing world.” tee on Public Affairs member Ken Keegstra, Research Subcommittee Chairman Nick The research centers would focus on ar- ASPB member Mike Thomashow, past Smith (R-MI) said, “The tremendous poten- eas of basic research such as cultivating Committee on Public Affairs member Jim tial of plant genomics is limited only by the plants in extreme conditions, developing al- resourcefulness and imagination of our sci- Cook, past president Charles Arntzen, and ternative uses for crops including energy pro- entists. We have already made great strides, other ASPB members have testified before duction, and disseminating information on but it is only the beginning. This bill will help Smith, Johnson, and the Science Research the ecological or other consequences of ge- create the next generation of plants that will netically engineered plants. The bill autho- Subcommittee in recent years and discussed provide consumer benefits, lower costs, pro- rizes $9 million for fiscal year 2002 and the importance of NSF-sponsored plant tect the environment, and help feed a grow- $13.5 million for each of the two following research, including plant biotechnology ing world population.” years. and plant genome research. Committee “A particularly important component of this legislation is the requirement that U.S. staff noted that Smith’s bill would provide universities and non-profits partner with in- a significant new source of funds for plant stitutions in the developing world,” said Sub- The bill now moves to the Senate for genome research and research on the ap- committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice consideration.

Questions from Public Abound at NC Museum Program “Tinkering With Nature”

The North Carolina Museum of Life and Sci- Michael Yudell, a fellow at the American non-technical background and consider- ences in Raleigh sponsored an evening pro- Museum of Natural History, spoke on ethi- able interest in the issue, Siedow noted. gram May 30 on “Tinkering with Nature: cal issues related to the genomics revolution, There were a lot of questions asked during Food and Medicine in the Genomic Age.” The primarily with regard to its application to the program, which ended at 9:00 p.m. and program featured ASPB Committee on Pub- medicine. Adrianne Massey moderated the continued in informal groups until museum lic Affairs member James Siedow of Duke program and spoke on both topics in her officials moved everyone out of the build- University, who discussed safety and environ- opening remarks. ing at 9:45 p.m. mental issues related to genetically modified The nearly 150 people who attended the Two representatives of a group called the crops. program appeared to have a fairly broad, North Carolina Coalition for Safe Foods set

continued on page 15

14 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Public Affairs

House Science Committee Supports ASPB Request to Include Biology in NSF Budget Authorization Bill “Trends” Section

ASPB Public Affairs staff and public affairs baseline. Paragraph three was changed to campaign seeking “more balance” can also representatives from three other associations read: “…is designed to achieve an appropri- take science interests off more important met with House Science Committee staff rep- ate balance among major fields and subfields messages and make them appear instead resenting committee leadership in May and of science, mathematics and engineering….” like they are engaged in interdisciplinary asked that the NSF budget authorization bill These changes from “physical science” to squabbling. H.R. 4664 be amended so that language in the broader term “science” address ASPB’s There is still more work that needs to be section 5 of the bill no longer exclude bio- biology community concerns. ASPB is also done by the biology community in response logical sciences (and the social sciences). asking the Science Committee to guard to what is the purported need for “more bal- Section 5 of the bill had called for sub- against combining the non-biomedical life ance” campaign of many physical scientists. mission of an annual plan by NSF describ- sciences with biomedical research when look- ASPB is working with the American Insti- ing how allocation of research funding will ing at federal funding trends. tute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), which also “(2) affect trends in research support for Some physical science groups have called attended the May meeting, and some other major fields and subfields of the physical sci- on Congress to provide what they call “more biological science groups on conducting fu- ences, mathematics and engineering includ- balance” in federal funding. These same in- ture efforts as part of a broader community ing for emerging multidisciplinary research terest groups have been citing the doubling response to the aggressive campaign by some areas; and (3) ensure that research in the of funding track that has been followed for physical science groups to obtain what they physical sciences, mathematics and engineer- the National Institutes of Health. However, label “more balance” in the federal research ing is adequate to address important research most non-medical life sciences have not been portfolio. (See related story on page 13.) opportunities in these fields.” on a doubling track and are threatened to be ASPB has commended Congress for its sig- Committee representatives led by Chair- adversely affected by the purported need for nificant budget increases for NIH. The ex- man Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) agreed with “more balance” campaign of some physical ample shown at NIH may have helped Sena- ASPB and the three other organizations and science representatives. tors Christopher Bond (R-MO), Barbara subsequently made the change with an The physical science representatives have Mikulski (D-MD), and their colleagues amendment approved by the full committee maintained that the large budget increases in their strong and successful efforts to obtain later that month. The House of Representa- for NIH provide a disproportionate amount increases for NSF that have been several times tives subsequently approved the bill with the of funding for the life sciences. The campaign higher than the rate of inflation. In addition to amended provision. by these groups is unfairly broad as it does non-medical life sciences, physical sciences In paragraph two (trends) of the bill, not mention the distinction between biomedi- and other science disciplines also benefited “physical science” became “science” so that cal research and non-biomedical research in from these increases for NSF. everything is tracked to develop a better the life sciences. To mount a highly visible

continued from page 14 up a booth outside the auditorium and passed did appear to weigh on the coalition from April 20 through September 2. A por- out literature on “The Health Hazards of representative’s credibility. tion of the exhibit is devoted to presenting Genetically Engineered Foods,” written by The program was held in conjunction with benefits and risks of genetically modified Laurie Lynch. One of the two representatives an exhibit at the museum called the “Genomic crops. added a doom-saying prediction, warning that Revolution.” The exhibit was originally de- eating genetically modified foods will lead to veloped by the American Museum of Natu- the extinction of the human race. Siedow, a ral History in New York and is now traveling genetically modified food consumer still very throughout the country. The first stop was much in existence, noted that this comment Raleigh, where the exhibit is being shown

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 15 Public Affairs

USDA, Siedow Visit Poland to Discuss GMOs with Public Officials, Media, Scientists

After spending much of the past three centu- of USDA was the team leader, and Wayne On Thursday, June 6, Siedow and the rest ries subjected to domination by powerful Molstad of the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw was of the U.S. delegation met with about 15 rep- neighbors, including the ruthless reigns of the local organizer. resentatives of various media (radio, TV, and Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, Poland is look- Siedow and others in the U.S. delegation print). The program followed generally the ing west for help in its relatively early years met with representatives of 18 Polish govern- same format as the meeting with ministry of- as an independent, democratic nation with a ment ministries and representatives of a few ficials. Siedow said there were a lot of lead- free-market economy. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) on ing questions from the media (including an Poland plans to join the European Union Monday, June 3. Each member of the delega- unusual question about a possible linkage (EU) in coming years in a move that could tion gave a 45-minute talk (with simultaneous between obesity in the United States and the help strengthen its economy. To join the EU, translation) and fielded questions for 15–20 general introduction of modified foods). Poland must develop policies in a number of minutes afterward. After the entire session, “Afterward, we did two interviews with areas, including plant biotechnology. there was another open question period. two TV stations, including TV 2 (which has To help in further understanding issues re- Siedow noted that there were a number of one of the largest viewer markets in Poland). lated to plant biotechnology in the United thoughtful questions raised. Just as is found We were featured on the 10:00 p.m. news, States, Poland hosted a delegation including in the United States, an anti-biotechnology and I was informed that the story was very ASPB Committee on Public Affairs member NGO representative took part in the ques- positive,” Siedow commented. “We also ap- Jim Siedow of Duke University in June. The tion-and-answer period and delivered a speech peared on a second TV program that aired delegation was sponsored by the U.S. Depart- against modified foods. on Saturday morning on another channel. I ment of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural The session was followed by a formal lun- also just heard that good articles have ap- Service. cheon, which coincided with the Poland– peared in two magazines.” In meetings with government officials, re- South Korea World Cup soccer game, so fur- The entire last page of the June 8–9 searchers, and the news media, Siedow ad- ther discussions on genetically modified or- Magazyn Trybuny is devoted to the issue of dressed scientific and environmental issues ganisms (GMOs) were minimal at the lun- plant biotechnology and modified foods. The related to modified foods. Tom Zinnen, bio- cheon, Siedow noted. article cited strength in the U.S. regulatory technology policy and outreach specialist On Wednesday, June 5, the U.S. delega- system for modified foods, including regula- from the University of Wisconsin, addressed tion went to the Agricultural University of tory authority of USDA and the Environmen- regulation of modified foods in the United Warsaw (AUW), located in a Warsaw suburb, tal Protection Agency. States. Andy Benson, director of international where Siedow and his colleagues met with Some U.S. officials are hoping that this in- outreach for the International Food Informa- some 20 faculty members. Discussions on dependent nation, which took the lead in over- tion Council, spoke on biotechnology com- modified crops continued for about two- throwing Soviet rule that led to freedom for munications, public opinion, and food safety. and-a-half hours. Siedow said that for the Eastern Europe, will embrace an open, sci- In addition, this delegation was joined by most part, the Polish faculty members were ence-based view toward modified foods as Professor Tomasz Twardoski of the Univer- supportive of research on the plant biotech- it prepares to become a voting member of sity of Poznan and the Polish Academy of nology and critical of their government’s the EU. Sciences, who spoke on the value-added fea- current restrictive regulations on modified tures of crop biotechnology. Mark Hawthorne foods.

16 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Public Affairs

Alan McHughen, a member of ASPB, worked with the ASPB Committee on Public Plant Biotechnology Affairs and Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services in submitting this commen- tary, which was published by The Columbus Dispatch May 22 (and The Record of Reduced Pesticide Use Northern New Jersey May 21) among newspapers subscribing to Knight Ridder/ by 46 Million Pounds Tribune. Plant biotechnology has increased crop yields Urban Sprawl Is Threat to Biodiversity significantly while reducing use of pesticides in the United States, the National Center for Food Alan McHughen & Agricultural Policy (NCFAP) reported. And once again, the angst subsided The NCFAP report on its study said that for Wednesday, May 22, 2002—Is biodi- when Nature disowned the paper last year 2001 in the United States, six crops cur- versity in Mexico under threat? Yes, but month, agreeing with technical experts rently in the marketplace developed through not by biotech corn. Emotional excite- that the research findings were flawed and biotechnology—soybeans, corn, cotton, pa- ment is clouding the real issues. that the paper should not have been pub- paya, squash, and canola—produced an addi- First was the publication of a short lished in the first place. tional 4 billion pounds of food and fiber on paper in Nature, a respectable British The experts do agree that corn pollen— the same acreage, improved farm income $1.5 scientific journal, showing monarch but- whether from a biotech variety or an billion, and reduced pesticide volume by 46 terflies, an insect, might be harmed by ordinary modern corn hybrid—can mate million pounds. eating pollen containing insecticide pro- with its genetic ancestor, teosinte, to Assuming that an additional 21 crops evalu- vided by a type of biotech corn. add their genetic material to that of the ated in the study are eventually planted, pro- Popular wisdom, if not the authors, teosinte. duction would increase 10 billion pounds, farm concluded that the survival of the mi- Such genetic mingling is a natural income would improve $1 billion, and pesti- grating Mexico-based monarchs was event, so the mere presence of modern corn cide volume would be reduced 117 million therefore threatened by these plants. plants growing in Mexican farm soil pounds. The study evaluated regional produc- Thus the hand-wringing began, along virtually guarantees that, sooner or later, tion in 27 of America’s crops, or slightly more with calls for banning biotech crops be- genes from corn will be detected in than half of the U.S. crop value. cause of the apparent threat to biodiver- teosinte. According to Leonard Gianessi, NCFAP se- sity as exemplified by the lovely monarch. With all the media coverage and anxi- nior research associate and senior author of the The angst subsided only after a blue- ety over threats—real or imagined—to report, “As opposed to previous studies, our ribbon panel of public scientists con- biodiversity in Mexico, a more crucial is- work goes well beyond the traditional agricul- ducted experiments and published a se- sue is overlooked. tural commodities and evaluates the impact bio- ries of research articles showing that the That is, does cross-pollination consti- technology can have on a much wider range of biodiversity threat to monarchs from tute a threat to biodiversity? Is the sur- crops, including fruits and vegetables. In fact, biotech corn was negligible; that a much vival of ancestral populations of teosinte the study shows every region in the country greater hazard to monarchs was car threatened by genetic material from mod- stands to benefit from the development of the windshields. Since no one seemed will- ern corn? new varieties evaluated in this study.” ing to campaign against windshields on To some, cross-pollination is genetic The report was commissioned with a grant cars, the furor died down. pollution and the offending corn must be from the Rockefeller Foundation and was later Then came a report arguing that the banned, because, according to the argu- expanded to cover 40 case studies of 27 crops genetic integrity of Mexican teosinte, ment, the philandering corn genes dilute with funding from the Biotechnology Industry the ancestor of modern corn, was being the genetic purity, and therefore the Organization, CropLife America, Council for contaminated by genetic material from biodiversity, of the teosinte. Biotechnology Information, Grocery Manufac- biotech corn. To others, moving genes from plant to turers of America, and Monsanto. NCFAP is a Once again, hand-wringers were out plant, even species to species as with corn private, nonprofit organization based in Wash- in force, demanding an end to modern and teosinte, is completely natural, does ington, DC. The complete study is available at plant breeding because this paper, also not constitute a threat to biodiversity and http://www.ncfap.org. published in Nature, showed biotech crops threatened biodiversity in Mexico. continued on page 18

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 17 Public Affairs

continued from page 17

is a phenomenon we need not be too con- corn. In short, biodiversity in teosinte is not Finally, we must encourage the cultivation cerned with. jeopardized by genes or pollen from modern and consumption of biotech varieties with The scientific evidence indicates that ordi- corn, including biotech varieties. higher nutritional quality and yields to sat- nary pollination between modern corn and The real threat to teosinte and other maize- isfy the demand for more and better foods older strains and even teosinte does not con- strain populations emanates from human without converting more land. stitute a significant threat to biodiversity. populations, with their increasing demands Biodiversity in Mexico—and elsewhere— Modern corn varieties have been available for land and food. is certainly under threat. Emotional distrac- to Mexican farmers for half a century. Yes, there As cities grow, they encroach on the best tions accelerate the problem by delaying the is evidence that some cross-pollination events farmland. As remaining farmers attempt to implementation of real solutions. have occurred over that time. And yes, the meet the demand for more food, they replace modern genes can persist in the populations. older, less productive varieties with new, high- Alan McHughen, a biotechnology specialist But the modern genes do not overtake or yielding hybrids. Both activities displace tra- in the Department of Botany and Plant Sci- crowd out the ancestral genes. ditional plants. ences at the University of California, River- There is no indication that biodiversity of If society wants to preserve teosinte and old side, is author of Pandora’s Picnic Basket: The teosinte has suffered from the introduction of strains, we must support well-funded and or- Potential and Hazards of Genetically Modi- modern corn genes in the mid-20th century. ganized gene banks and reserve lands, where fied Foods. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tri- Unless the modern genes provide some ecologi- the genetic heritage can be protected. bune Information Services. cal advantage to the recipient teosinte plant, We must establish a regulatory system for they either eventually die off or remain a tiny new crop varieties based on their health, safety Originally distributed by proportion of the teosinte’s gene population. and ecological fitness, not on the breeding KRT News Service and Biotech corn does not cross-pollinate with method used. used with permission. any greater efficiency than modern nonbiotech

ASPB now accepts checks over the web.

It is simple and secure. We will accept your university, company, or personal check. Just go online, fill out the web form, and put the check information in the system. We will receive your order of renewal as soon as you hit the submit button. This is for checks drawn on U.S. banks in U.S. funds only. If you have questions about this new service, please e-mail Kelley Noone at [email protected].

18 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Public Affairs

The Spokane Spokesman-Review and Akron Beacon Journal newspapers published the following op-ed written by ASPB member Jim Cook. Cook explains findings on modified crops in a new report by the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy. This commentary is the second by Cook in recent months that explains plant biotechnology to the public. Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services distributed this commentary to subscribing newspapers.

Biotech Crops, an Environmental Ally

R. James Cook 2001, were grown with the no-till method of line for Northwest crops are raspberry with farming—the most of any crop. resistance to the region’s most devastating Pullman, Washington, Monday, June 17, As startling as these numbers may seem, virus disease, wheat with resistance to two 2002—Anyone uncertain about the merits of similar gains could be cited for the hundreds important virus diseases, and potatoes with biotechnology for food and agriculture should of pests and diseases controlled over the past tolerance to an herbicide and resistance to the read a new report by the National Center for 100 or more years by the methods of genetic verticillium wilt fungus now controlled by soil Food and Agricultural Policy, a nonprofit re- modification referred to collectively as “tra- fumigation. search group in Washington, DC. ditional” plant breeding. Like most other pests and diseases still con- The food report, released a week ago, notes These gains account in large part for why trolled by pesticides, none of the four crop that a mere eight varieties of genetically modi- we Americans today spend only about 10 diseases targeted for control by biotechnol- fied crops provided an overall value to percent of our incomes for the highest-qual- ogy in the Pacific Northwest has been brought U.S. agriculture of $2.5 billion through ity and most-abundant food in the world. under control anywhere in the world using higher yields and lower costs of production What is particularly exciting about the Na- traditional breeding practices. in 2001. tional Center for Food and Agricultural Policy While most alternatives to pesticides have The lower production costs produced a ma- report is that someone actually put the num- tended to make food more expensive, control- jor environmental benefit as well—reducing bers together to document what happens or ling plant pests and diseases through genetic pesticide use by 46 million pounds. The re- can happen when pests or diseases are con- modification lowers the cost of production. port can be found on the web at www.ncfap. trolled using genetic modification. Food produced from these crops is no more org and ought to be required reading for ev- Despite the proven safety and efficacy of expensive, and eventually becomes less ex- eryone involved in the ongoing debate, includ- biotech crops, misinformation has created lin- pensive as the lower costs of production are ing America’s farming community. gering skepticism. A biotech variety of potato passed on to consumers. The eight biotech varieties included in this with one gene that resists the Colorado potato In addition, crops protected from pests and NCFAP analysis were widely disparate. They beetle, and another that resists the potato leaf diseases leave less fertilizer unused in the soil include insect-resistant cotton and corn, her- roll virus—two pests currently managed with and return more organic matter to the soil, bicide-tolerant soybeans, corn, cotton and pesticides—was rejected by the fast-food indus- and the harvested products are almost always canola and virus-resistant squash and papaya. try out of fear that consumers would consider of a higher quality than products from crops The greatest increase in production oc- these potatoes unsafe to eat. damaged by pests and diseases. curred with insect-resistant corn, which The National Center for Food and Agri- At a time when each day’s news seems to yielded an additional 1.75 million tons. The cultural Policy report pointed out that the ge- be dominated by depressing stories, the Na- greatest cost savings occurred with herbicide- netically modified insect/virus resistant po- tional Center for Food and Agricultural tolerant soybeans that reduced the use of her- tato, along with five other biotech crop vari- Policy’s report confirms that we’re still ca- bicides by an estimated $1 billion. eties in the pipeline, have the potential to in- pable of making progress with major benefits Herbicide-tolerant crops also made it easier crease the net value of Idaho, Oregon and for the human race. for farmers to adopt a no-till system of farm- Washington agriculture by an estimated $1.8 That’s a bit of refreshing good news for ing, which reduces the potential for soil ero- billion if fully adopted. all Americans. sion in addition to the cost of production. At the same time, the new crops could de- According to the Conservation Technology crease the amount of pesticide used in the The writer holds the endowed chair in wheat research at Washington State University and is a Information Service at Purdue University in Pacific Northwest’s tri-state potato region by member of the National Academy of Sciences. This Indiana, about 25 million acres of soybeans, about 20 million pounds annually. commentary was distributed by Knight Ridder/ one-third of the total U.S. soybean crop in The five genetic modifications in the pipe- Tribune Information Services.

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 19 ASPB Education Forum

Compiled and edited by Gary Kuleck, Biology Department, Loyola Marymount University, 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045, e-mail [email protected]

ASPB Exhibits at MIST Career Fair ANNOUNCEMENT The ASPB Education Foundation sponsored attending medical school. Robin explained Phi Sigma an exhibit at the 11th annual Career Fair of that research conducted by plant physiolo- the Minorities in Science and Technology gists is very beneficial and that plant physiol- Phi Sigma Society is the oldest aca- (MIST) Network held April 30–May 2, 2002, ogy is actually a sub-field of biology. In addi- demic honor society for the biological at The George Washington University in tion, Robin stated, “Plant scientists are in- sciences, established at Ohio State Uni- Washington, DC. volved in many different types of research versity on March 17, 1915. It is the The three-day MIST career fair introduces that include the growth of plants for food, only honor society for all biological middle school and high school ethnic minor- fuel, and, yes, even medicine.” subdisciplines recognized by the Asso- ity students to careers related to science and When asked how and why the partici- ciation of College Honor Societies. Its technology by exposing them to a wealth of pants attend the Career Fair, one student mission is simple: The Phi Sigma hands-on exhibits. More than 1,800 students, from North Bend Elementary School in Honor Society is devoted to the recog- teachers, and parents participate in the ca- Baltimore stated, “It’s fun! The exhibit hall nition of research and academic excel- reer fair annually, with more than 30 scien- is best because it shows me things that I lence in all the biological sciences. tific associations and corporations staffing never knew about.” The parent of a sixth Members of Phi Sigma are a cross- booths and/or conducting workshops. Exhibi- grader who attends Fallston Middle School section of upper-level undergraduate tors included the American Association for in Baltimore told ASPB staff, “It’s really and graduate students majoring in the the Advancement of Science, the U.S. Envi- wonderful! My son doesn’t know what di- life sciences who have demonstrated ronmental Protection Agency, the Society of rection to go, so this is great to start at this superior academic achievement, as well Manufacturing Engineers, the American So- age.” Another student, who attends North as professional biologists involved in ciety for Biochemistry and Molecular Biol- Bend Elementary, described an experiment research in academia, government ogy, and the Central Intelligence Agency. to ASPB staff that involved growing a plant agencies, and industry. Membership is At the ASPB booth, ASPB member Robin with a kidney seed. “My sister grew a lima for a lifetime, with no annual dues af- Buell answered questions and described the bean plant but it died! My experiment is ter initiation. Among the many ben- different types of jobs available to those stu- to see if it can grow indoors.” efits of membership are a reduced sub- dents interested in the field of plant science. Students, teachers, and parents expressed scription rate for the AIBS journal, When asked about future plans for college, enthusiasm for The Plant Cell and Plant BioScience, and eligibility to apply for many of the 11th graders, who were either Physiology posters, the two-sided Principles Phi Sigma Student Travel Grants to biology majors or taking advanced placement of Plant Biology bookmarks, brochures about help reimburse students for travel ex- courses in biology, expressed an interest in plant science studies, Principles of Plant Bi- penses to present their research at pro- ology—Concepts for Science Educa- fessional meetings. tion, and “The ‘What’s so cool about For more information on the history, plants?’ Cube,” which was a huge hit, purpose, and advantages of member- particularly among the students. ship, please visit www.phisigmasociety. For additional information on org. This site also contains useful links ASPB Education Foundation pro- to employment sites, information on grams, visit www.aspb.org/ed_ how to establish a new chapter of Phi foundation/programs.cfm or contact Sigma at your college or university, and Robin Lempert at rlempert@aspb. further details about the Student Travel org. Grant Program.

Lauren A. Ransome Production Manager Students Adam Steward, Amecnaha Peoples, Plant Physiology and Raven Jackson from Fallston Middle School, [email protected] Baltimore, talk to ASPB Education Foundation assistant Paula Brooks at MIST.

20 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Education

Virtual Reality CALL FOR PROPOSALS

As part of its Education Programme, the So- WSSA Undergraduate ciety for Experimental Biology (SEB; Research Award—2003 www.sebiology.org) held a very successful workshop on Virtual Learning during its an- The Weed Science Society of America has developed an Undergraduate Student Re- nual main meeting in Swansea (Wales, UK) search Grant designed to encourage and involve exceptional undergraduates in agri- in April this year. Organized in collaboration cultural research. Interested faculty members are encouraged to identify potential award with LTSN Bioscience (www.bio.ltsn.ac.uk), candidates and discuss the possibility of sponsoring a research project. Awards may be we were honored to welcome ASPB member used as a stipend, for research budget expenses (travel, supplies, etc.), to defer fees, to Dr. John Markwell (University of Nebraska— defray living expenses for summer research, or any combination of these items. Lincoln) as our plenary speaker. Formerly ASPB’s Education Committee chair, John AWARD: Up to $1000 for support of undergraduate research to be conducted treated the audience to his extensive teaching over a minimum of one quarter/semester during 2003. This award experience by speaking on the subject of stu- may be used to defray the cost of research supplies or as a stipend. dent learning. His theories on the dynamics Support of a faculty sponsor is required. Awards will be made to of learning in the context of both traditional the student, to be administered by the faculty sponsor’s department. and virtual environments were very well re- APPLICANT: The applicant is an undergraduate student with a strong interest in ceived, as was his interactive style of delivery. Weed Science. Students majoring in all related disciplines may apply. A summary of the talk is published in the SEB Bulletin (July issue) and can also be seen at TO APPLY: Applicants should prepare a 2-3 page research proposal including www.sebiology.org/bulletin/July2002. name, address, phone number, title, objective, experimental ap- Delivered by other experienced educators, proach, discussion, budget and references. The discussion section the rest of the workshop talks focused on vir- of the proposal should describe the expected results and their pos- tual learning and assessment methods. These sible significance to Weed Science. The student should provide a were followed by two parallel hands-on ses- cover letter in which general academic and career goals are dis- sions on e-tutoring, including the implications cussed. A copy of the student’s academic transcripts should also be of widening access for disabled students. A provided. wider range of posters on innovative teach- FACULTY Any faculty member who is actively engaged in Weed Science re- ing techniques was presented later in the day, SPONSOR: search is qualified to be a sponsor. The faculty sponsor should re- with John Markwell’s poster on the decay of view the research proposal with special attention to the budget, web links receiving media attention from the and the distribution of funds should be approved by both the stu- New Scientist (April 13 issue). All the work- dent and sponsor. In addition, the sponsor should provide a letter shop abstracts are posted at http://bio. of reference, including a statement of his/her willingness to super- ltsn.ac.uk/NV/sebabstracts.htm, and some vise the proposed research and to provide needed space, equipment will also be published as full papers in the and supplies above those requested in the proposal. The sponsor is Journal of Biological Education later this encouraged to assist the student in presenting his/her results at a year. regional Weed Science Meeting. Sarah Blackford HOW TO APPLY: The completed proposal, academic transcripts, cover letter and fac- SEB Education & Public Affairs Officer ulty letter of support should be forwarded to: Dr. John Jachetta, Dow AgroSciences, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268-1054; Phone: (317) 337-4686, Fax (317) 337-4649, E-mail: jjjachetta@ dow.com. Proposals should be received no later than November 15, 2002. Funding decisions will be made by January 25, 2003, and presented at the 2003 WSSA National Meeting Awards Banquet.

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 21 New Staff

Suzanne Moore

Suzanne Moore joined the ASPB staff in April as the institu- tional subscription and fulfillment assistant and will provide customer service to institutional members, as well as more out- reach to the institutional community. Her experience includes working at the American Association for the Advancement of Science to build and market an online database of funding op- portunities for early career scientists in conjunction with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, directing web site produc- tion at sciencewise.com, product management consulting for a custom software company, and working as a partner in a land- scaping business. She has a degree in earth science from Frostburg State University and hopes to become a certified professional horticulturist this fall.

Obituary

Simon Harold Wender

ASPB member Simon Harold Wender, 88, died Thursday, March sity of Oklahoma, where he was instrumental in establishing a 28, in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Dr. Wender was born Sep- biochemistry doctoral program and building the department. tember 4, 1913, in Dalton, Georgia. He earned his bachelor’s While at OU, where he became known as the grandpa of bio- and master’s degrees in chemistry from Emory University and chemistry, he authored or coauthored 176 research publications, his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Minnesota. secured key grants to fund his department, and won numerous After teaching four years at the University of Kentucky and two achievement awards. He also taught and mentored thousands of years as a research chemist at the Texas Agricultural Experi- students. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, and his children, mental Station, he embarked on a 37-year career at the Univer- Joseph Wender, Barbara Rothlein, and Sherri Wender.

22 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Obituary

Robert V. Klucas ing a theory posed by a no- nodule senescence, leghemoglobin and its

table N2-fixation researcher to modified states, ferric leghemoglobin reductase, Robert V. Klucas lost his battle his final paper on non-symbi- non-symbiotic hemoglobins and their function. with cancer on February 28, otic hemoglobins, he insisted Through all these years of research, his stan- 2002. The following messages on a conservative interpreta- dards remained high, and many co-authors pay tribute to his contributions tion of data. He felt strongly and students learned to appreciate his careful to science, his service to the uni- that evidence had to be clear approach to publications. versity and the profession, and and supported by other ap- to his role as mentor and friend. proaches before he would Leghemoglobins propose a theory. Because of by Manuel Becana Three Decades at the this, Bob’s work has contributed to our bet- I first met Bob Klucas back in 1989. Dr. Klucas University of Nebraska–Lincoln ter understanding of the N2-fixation process. already had a well-established reputation as by John Markwell and Terry Riordan For example, his research established the site an excellent scientist and as an expert on

Bob Klucas came to the University of Ne- of N2-fixation in soybean nodules as being in leghemoglobin and senescence of legume root braska as an assistant professor in 1970 and the soluble rather than the membrane frac- nodules. He had also worked on other im- served for the next three decades. His col- tion. Later, his research with H. J. Evans dem- portant aspects within the field of biological leagues remember him as altruistic, decent, onstrated strong evidence supporting the con- nitrogen fixation, such as bacteroid metabo- honest, dependable, ethical, and self-sacrific- clusion that both N2-fixation and acetylene lism and the essentiality of nickel as a micro- ing. He was truly a gentle man with a great reduction were catalyzed by nitrogenase. This nutrient for grain legumes, but I was particu- deal of integrity. He was a supportive father information led to the basis of a scheme for larly attracted by his pioneering work on the to Pete and Gillian and an encouraging hus- electron transport for N2-fixation by soybean mechanisms of nodules to maintain functional band to Carol. Bob made many friends dur- nodule bacteroids. His research demonstrated leghemoglobin. At that time, he had supervised ing his long career and was thought of very that two components of nitrogenase, one con- or was supervising important Ph.D. disserta- highly by his peer group as well as his stu- taining iron and the other iron and molybde- tions on that subject. I recall those of Drs. dents. He was a superlative teacher and men- num, were necessary for maximum activity. Leonard Saari, Lin Ji, Steve Wood, and Keuk- tor for graduate students and postdocs. He Bob’s research further substantiated the acety- Ki Lee, among others, all of which found guid- had high standards for academic achievement lene reduction assay for N2-fixation assess- ance and inspiration in Dr. Klucas’s open mind and often provided refuge and support for ment in free-living and symbiotic systems. for science and teaching. I will never forget the floundering graduate students. His research with associative nitrogen fixa- wonderful companionship that I found in Bob’s Bob became head of the Department of tion with temperate grasses was unique. He lab, as well as the interaction and friendship Biochemistry in 1996. His administrative style demonstrated that those associations with bac- of its members with Dr. Gautam Sarath, at was based on democratic input from all par- teria located in the roots or rhizosphere most that time already a staff scientist in charge of ties, a process of conciliation and commitment closely resembling symbiotic systems were most the protein core facility of the UNL. Despite to work toward the general good. He contin- effective but were still ineffective in deriving his heavy teaching duties and faculty meetings, ued to serve the university and the depart- useful levels of nitrogen. The final stages of his Bob had always time to discuss science with ment even after the seriousness of his illness research involved the cloning of rice non-sym- us, to congratulate us on successful experiments became evident. He spent much of his remain- biotic hemoglobin, the description of its intra- and to continue in the track, or to suggest new ing energy supporting and mentoring junior cellular location and appearance in normal and ones, for those that failed. His very special hu- faculty and working with his graduate and stress situations and, in collaboration with man qualities, including deep concern about undergraduate students. Bob truly gave 32 Mark Hargrove, determination of the proper- our well-being, made him sensitive to our dis- years of service to his colleagues and his uni- ties of recombinant rice hemoglobin. tress. This is why, very soon after my arrival versity, and he is missed. By comparison, other researchers seemed in his lab, my mentor, Dr. Klucas, became also content with attempting to attack a much my dear friend. Bob, and his at-that-time stu- A Research Career Fixing Nitrogen smaller portion of the action. Bob’s interests dents, taught me generously all that I needed. by Bob and Linda Shearman broadened based on a desire to understand the We purified low molecular mass compounds Bob’s research involving symbiotic and asso- conditions that influenced nitrogenase activity that were able to reduce ferric leghemoglobin ciative nitrogen fixation was both careful and but led into divergent areas of research—am- and identified some of them as flavins, and cutting-edge. From his earliest work challeng- monium transport, enzyme oxidation state, we studied the involvement of free radicals

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 23 Obituary

and the protection by antioxidants in nodule many students and postdocs who experienced We were each fortunate to have had Bob as a senescence. Drs. Klucas and Sarath showed difficulties in their individual labs. He never mentor early in our careers. As an under- me how to work with proteins from nodules. shut his door on a person and tried his ut- graduate next door, a laboratory assistant, and I am particularly indebted to them for their most to build a strong and vibrant department. a graduate student, we all benefited from insightful comments in seminars and their rig- Bob touched a lot of people during his career. Bob’s remarkably strong but quiet and non- orous planning of experiments. I have, and intrusive mentoring style. He allowed each will have forever, fond memories of the after- Plant Non-Symbiotic Hemoglobins individual the space to reach for his or her noons and sunsets spent at Bob’s house and by Raúl Arredondo-Peter full potential. Each of our careers was largely the dining excursions with him and Carol in Obtaining the first clone of a plant non-sym- shaped by those early interactions with Bob. the United States and Spain, where some years biotic hemoglobin (nsHb) took several years First, he set a standard for excellence. Sec- later they visited us. Bob, we will all miss you of hard work and innumerable problems and ond, he provided an environment in which as a wonderful mentor and human being. obstacles. This situation would disappoint we could grow. He was always ready to move almost anyone, but not Dr. Klucas, who was us to the next challenge. Third, he provided a Leghemoglobin Degradation always patient and confident. He frequently sounding board for whatever might be on our by Gautam Sarath used to say, “Someday, very soon, we will have minds, and he always managed to make time I first met Bob when I joined the Biochemis- the (nsHb) clone.” His enthusiasm and opti- for those conversations. And finally, he served try Department as a postdoctoral fellow. I mism were contagious, and thus we never as a wellspring of advice that was always con- became interested in mechanisms that degrade gave up. Dr. Klucas had a strong passion for sidered, scholarly, and right on target. leghemoglobins (Lbs), and it was great to have plant hemoglobins. This passion was evident But with Bob, the mentoring didn’t stop one of the world’s experts on Lbs next door. in his face when I described the richness of when you left the lab. Throughout our scien- Although our formal collaboration had to vegetation after a trip I made to the tropical tific careers, Bob was always there. Not in- wait for a few more years, Bob generously Mexican state of Quintana Roo. His comment terfering, not strong-arming. But his steady- supplied me with highly purified samples of to my description was, “If you want, you can ing influence was always felt. We were able the different soybean root nodule Lbs. With bring to the lab any, any legume or other plant to spend time with Bob just weeks before his time, this interaction evolved into a com- for the isolation of hemoglobins.” death. Although clearly in the grips of the pletely integrated collaboration on various Dr. Klucas was always intellectually satis- cancer that would soon take his life, he was aspects of plant hemoglobins and root nod- fied by any kind of new knowledge, and he still our mentor—offering advice, checking to ule metabolism. In early 1993, we had dis- enjoyed the period when we analyzed rice see how things were going, what new discov- cussed at length the existence of heme oxyge- hemoglobin genes; however, he was especially eries we had made, what new directions we nase (HO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) excited about the possibility of obtaining a were pursuing. in plants, particularly root nodules. Although recombinant rice Hb1 for biochemical char- But somewhere during those years, while our studies failed to reveal the presence of ei- acterization. Bob Klucas was always con- the mentoring continued, a deep friendship ther enzyme using standard biochemical tech- cerned about other people’s welfare. After my grew. And the friendships included our fami- niques, it was reassuring to note the eventual return to Mexico in 1997, he provided me lies. Of course, there were always the scien- discovery of the two enzymes in plants. Bob’s with materials to continue working on plant tific meetings where we could meet and catch original insights had been proved correct. hemoglobins, and he called or sent e-mail mes- up. In addition to the scientific meetings, we In addition to his scientific duties, Bob sages every Saturday morning to continue also found many opportunities to visit Bob Klucas became the head of the Biochemistry “traditional” Saturday lab chats with his and his family when we passed through Lin- Department in 1996 and held this role through “Mexican friend,” as he used to call me. Bob coln. And then there were the family vaca- his illness. His steady guidance and extremely Klucas was gone too early. However, a tions. We were part of a group that came to- fair treatment of all his staff were truly remark- person’s memory is alive if others remember gether one week every five years in locations able. He was one of the few really good scien- him. I will never forget that for several rea- like the Grand Tetons of Wyoming, Crater tists I have known who was also fair and de- sons our future work aimed to understand Lake in Oregon, the Sawtooth Mountains in cent to a fault. He was a strong proponent of plant nsHbs will be possible because of him. Idaho, and Gunnison, Colorado. Our fami- the public education system and an exceptional lies spent endless hours hiking, cooking, shar- mentor to students of all backgrounds, and he Memories of a Mentor and Friend ing stories, and receiving our regular doses of was willing to see the best in the people who by Dan Arp, Paul Ludden, and advice and encouragement from our friend worked for him. He was also a resource for Leonard Saari and mentor.

24 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Gatherings

ASPB News publishes dates, titles, locations, and contact names and addresses for meetings, courses, seminars, and the like that are of interest to ASPB members. Submit Future ASPB Annual Meeting Sites announcements via the Web at http://www.aspb.org/calendar/addevent.cfm. Ques- tions? Contact Donna Gordon at [email protected]. You may also reach us at ASPB 2003: Honolulu, Hawaii News, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA. Faxed transmissions Saturday, July 26, through are not accepted. Wednesday, July 30

For detailed information see the Web site, the 2004: Orlando, Florida 2002 February 15th, 2002, issue of Science, and/or contact one of the co-chairs, Ray Chollet Saturday, July 24, through AUGUST ([email protected]) or Christine Foyer Wednesday, July 28 ([email protected]). August 1–4 http://www.grc.uri.edu/programs/2002/co2.htm Tissue Remodeling Scheman Continuing Education Building August 11–17 +39 0971 205503, e-mail Iowa State University, Ames XXVI International Horticulture Congress [email protected] Deadline for abstracts is May 31, 2002. and Exhibition—Horticulture: Art and http://www.unibas.it/utenti/pseudomonassyringae Registration deadline is July 1, 2002. Travel Science for Life grant application due May 31, 2002. Toronto, Canada September 16–27 Contact Growth Factor and Signal Transduction The Toronto Knowledge & Scholarship Forum is Genomic Approaches to Forest Tree Conferences, Symposium Office, 3208 Molecular planned August 13, 2002. Offers of oral or Stress Tolerance Biology Building, Iowa State University, Ames, IA poster presentation specifically intended for this EU-funded short course/advanced 50011-3260; telephone 515-294-7968, fax 515 forum must be received by e-mail research workshop 294-2244, e-mail [email protected] ([email protected]) by November 30, 2001. To see Crete, Greece http://molebio.iastate.edu/~gfst/homepg.html the third announcement and call for abstracts, For information contact Dr. Andreas Doulis, visit the Web site. National Agricultural Research Foundation of August 1–6 http://www.ihc2002.org/ Greece, PO Box 2229, GR-71003, Iraclion, 13th International Congress of the Federation of Crete, Greece; fax +30 810 245873, e-mail European Societies of Plant Physiology (FESPP) August 22–26 [email protected] Heraklion, Crete, Greece 2nd Silicon in Agriculture Conference http://www.maich.gr/environment/news/ For information please contact Professor Kalliopi Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan genomics.html A. Roubelakis-Angelakis; telephone +30-81- For information, please contact ian Feng Ma, 394073; 304459, fax +30-81-394459, e-mail Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University; September 18–21 [email protected] or telephone +81-87-891-3137, e-mail Genetic Engineering Workshop [email protected] [email protected] Genetic Engineering and the Intrinsic Value and http://www.biology.uoc.gr/meetings/fespp http://cpln.kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp/silicon Integrity of Animals and Plants Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, UK August 3–7 SEPTEMBER Coordinator: Ifgene UK ASPB Plant Biology 2002 http://www.anth.org/ifgene/2002.htm Adams Mark Hotel, Denver, Colorado September 9–12 http://www.aspb.org/meetings/pb-2002/ International Conference on Polyphenols Marrakech-Morocco September 19–22 Molecular Targets for Dietary August 10–14 See the Web site or http://www.worlcalendar.com (keyword: polyphenols). For additional informa- Intervention in Disease FASEB meeting on Plant Developmental Scheman Continuing Education Building Mechanisms tion contact Professor Ismaïl EL HADRAMI, Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, Iowa State University, Ames Vermont Academy, Saxton’s River, VT Abstracts due July 19, 2002; registration http://www.faseb.org/meetings/src Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences Semlalia, BP. 2390, 40 001 Marrakech-Maroc; deadline: August 19, 2002. Travel grant application due July 19, 2002. Contact Growth August 11–14 telephone +212-44-439997/434649 poste 521, fax +212-44-439997/330251/436769, e-mail Factor and Signal Transduction Conferences, The 9th Biennial Conference of the Cellular and Symposium Office, 3208 Molecular Biology Molecular Biology of the Soybean [email protected] or [email protected] http://www.ucam.ac.ma/fssm/jiep2002 Building, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011- Urbana, Illinois 3260; telephone 515-294-7968, fax 515-294- For details e-mail [email protected] or see September 15–19 2244, e-mail [email protected] the Web site http://molebio.iastate.edu/~gfst/homepg.html http://www.soy2002.uiuc.edu 6th International Conference on Pseudomonas Syringae Pathovars and Related Pathogens Maratea (PZ), Italy September 23–25 August 11–16 1st Spanish Congress on Physiology, Biochemis- Gordon Research Conference on CO Fixation For information contact Nicola Sante Iacobellis, 2 try and Molecular Biology of Carbohydrates & Metabolism in Green Plants Dipartimento di Biologia, Difesa e Biotecnologie Agro-Forestali, Università degli Studi della Public University of Navarra, Navarra, Spain Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, For detailed information see the Web site or Massachusetts Basilicata, Campus Macchia Romana, 85100 Potenza, Italy; telephone +39 0971 205498, fax contact Javier Pozueta-Romero (javier.pozueta@

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 25 Gatherings

unavarra.es), Edurne Baroja-Fernandez November 13–15 APRIL ([email protected]), or Francisco Jose Munoz Plant species-level systematics: patterns, April 6–9 ([email protected]). processes and new applications Phytochemistry and Biology of Lignans http://www.unavarra.es/carbohidratos/ Gorlaeus Laboratory, Leiden, The Netherlands Cloister St. Albert, Rheindorfer Burgweg 39, indexE.html For information contact symposium2002@ D-53332 Bornheim-Walberberg, Germany nhn.leidenuniv.nl or see web site Contact Professor Dr. Maike Petersen, Institut September 29–October 01 http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/ fur Pharmazeutische Biologie, Philipps- Heavy Metals and Plants: From Ecosystems symposium2002/ Universitat Marburg, Deutschhausstr. 17A, to Biomolecules—the 9th New Phytologist D-35037 Marburg, Germany. Telephone 49-0- Symposium November 24–29 6421-2825821, fax 49-0-6421 2825828, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Biotechnology Havana 2002: “Agro-Biotech e-mail [email protected] For information, contact Philip A. Rea, Plant in the New Millennium” Science Institute, Department of Biology, Center for Genetic Engineering and April 10–16 University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA Biotechnology Havana City, Cuba Keystone Symposia “Plant Biology: 19104-6018; e-mail [email protected] For information contact call +53-7-2718008, Functions and Control of Cell Death” +53-7-2718466, fax +53-7-331779, e-mail [email protected] phone 800-253- OCTOBER [email protected] or see the web site http:// 0685 or 970-262-1230; fax 970-262-1525 bioagro.cigb.edu.cu October 7–9 http://www.keystonesymposia.org Biotechnolgie Vegetales: VIII JS-AUF Marrakech-Morocco MAY See the Web site. For additional information 2003 May 18–22 contact Professor Ismaïl EL HADRAMI, Third International Symposium on Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, JANUARY Molecular Breeding of Forage and Turf Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences For more information, visit our web site or Semlalia, BP. 2390, 40 001 Marrakech-Maroc; January 8–12 contact us at [email protected] telephone +212-44-439997/434649 poste 521, 2nd International Congress of Plant Physiology http://www.noble.org/mbft2003 fax +212-44-439997/330251/436769, e-mail On Sustainable Plant Productivity Under [email protected] or [email protected] Changing Environment May 25–29 http://www.bioveg.refer.org New Delhi, India Plants and Microbe Adaptations to Cold Contact Dr. G. C. Srivastava, Secretary General Quebec City, Canada October 10–19 (ICPP 2003), Division of Plant Physiology, For more information on the meeting visit the Optical Microscopy & Imaging in the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi web site at http://www.pmac2003.org. You can Biomedical Sciences 110012, India; telephone +91-011 5782815/ also contact Dr. Annick Bertrand, Agriculture Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, 5788773/5740616, fax +91-011-5766420/ and Agri-Food Canada 2560 Hochelaga Blvd., Massachusetts 5751719, e-mail Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada G1V 2J3; Application deadline is July 25, 2002. . Contact: [email protected] email: [email protected] Carol Hamel, Admissions Coordinator, Marine http://www.ispponline.org Biological Laboratory, 7MBL Street, Woods JUNE Hole, MA 02543-1015; telephone 508-289- January 15–19 7401, e-mail [email protected] Frontiers of Plant Cell Biology: Signals and June 7–12 Pathways, the 22nd Symposium in Plant Biology Tree Biotechnology 2003, October 23–25 Riverside Convention Center Umeå Plant Science Center, SLU XI Reunion Latinoamericana De Riverside, California For more information please contact Ulrika Fisiologia Vegetal For more information contact Kathy Barton; Hjelm; e-mail [email protected] XXIV Reunion Argentina De Fisiologia Vegetal telephone 909-787-4588, e-mail http://www.treebiotech2003.norrnod.se I Congreso Uruguayo De Fisiologia Vegetal [email protected] Conrad Resort & Casino Punta del Este, http://www.cepceb.ucr.edu/news/news.htm#1 AUGUST Uruguay August 9–13 For information on the meeting see the Web site: January 26–31 The Annual Meeting of the American http://www.fvegetal.edu.uy. For information on Gordon Research Conference on Phytopathological Society (APS) the location see www.conrad.com.uy Temperature Stress in Plants Charlotte, North Carolina Ventura, California For information, contact Kathy Aro; telephone For information contact 651-454-7250, e-mail [email protected] NOVEMBER Kay Walker Simmons, USDA/ARS National http://www.apsnet.org Program Staff, Beltsville, Maryland; telephone November 10–14 301-504-5560, e-mail [email protected] ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meetings, Uniting August 17–23 http://www.grc.org Sciences Solutions for the Global Community Fourth International Symbiosis Congress Indianapolis, Indiana Halifax, Nova Scotia For more information, Organizers: Douglas Zook and David view our web site or contact Keith Schlesinger, Richardson ([email protected]). e-mail [email protected] For more information visit our web site http://www.asa-cssa-sssa.org/anmeet/ http://people.bu.edu/dzook/

26 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 ASPB Placement Service Form

This form may be used only by members of the American Society of Plant Biologists. Please print or type your placement information on this form (curriculum vitae will not be accepted) and send to: Donna Gordon, ASPB Headquarters, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 USA; e-mail [email protected]

LAST NAME TITLE FIRST NAME INITIAL

STREET ADDRESS

CITY STATE ZIP COUNTRY

TELEPHONE FAX E-MAIL

I am seeking the following position (check all that apply): ❑ Permanent ❑ Temporary ❑ Postdoctoral ❑ Industrial ❑ Academic ❑ Government ❑ USA only ❑ Outside USA

US citizen? ❑ Yes ❑ No Date available: ______

Fields of interest, specialties, and publications titles: ______

Thesis, dissertation topics, professor: ______

Professional societies and honors: ______

Degree/year Major Minor College/university and location ______

Postdoctoral study (specialty and with whom, where, and when): ______

Employer and location From To Position, title, and duties ______

References (names, addresses, and telephone numbers): ______

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 27 ASPB Job Placement Service

I. Registering with the ASPB Placement Service and • Academic/Government/Industry Permanent Positions (Ph.D. level): Obtaining Placement Files Fee: $150. Includes listing in one issue of the ASPB News and 12 weeks ASPB operates a placement service in which are kept active on the ASPB online Job Bank. two files of résumés of individuals who are seeking employ- Word Limit: 200 for print ad; no limit for online ad. ment. Employers are urged to survey the résumé files for • Postdoctoral Positions those seeking permanent positions and those seeking Fee: No charge for universities, nonprofit organizations, and government postdoctoral or similar positions. The files cost $25 each installations; $150 for commercial companies. Includes listing in one is- and may be ordered from Donna Gordon, ASPB Placement sue of the ASPB News and 12 weeks on the ASPB online Job Bank. Service, 15501 Monona Drive, Rockville, MD 20855-2768 Word Limit: 200 for print ad; no limit for online ad. USA. Those seeking employment should complete the Place- ment Service Form on the previous page to be included in • Research/Technical Positions (non-Ph.D.) the service. Fee: No charge for universities, nonprofit organizations, and government installations; $150 for commercial companies. Includes listing in one is- II. Placing a Position Ad in the ASPB News and on the sue of the ASPB News and 12 weeks on the ASPB online Job Bank. ASPB Homepage Word Limit: 200 for print ad; no limit for online ad.

Please note that you may now submit jobs directly online. • Assistantships, Fellowships, Internships Simply go to http://www.aspb.org/jobbank/ and select Sub- Fee: No charge; ad will appear in two issues of the ASPB News—the mit a Job. If you have any questions, please contact Donna first time at full length and the second time in an abbreviated form— Gordon at [email protected]. and 12 weeks on the ASPB online Job Bank. Word Limit: None.

ACADEMIC/GOVERNMENT/INDUSTRY confidential letters of reference be sent, before will be expected to have, or develop, an POSITIONS September 1, 2002, to Dr. Thérese Cabana, externally funded research program and to Chairman, Department of biological sciences, participate in undergraduate and graduate Assistant Professor Position Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre- instruction. Candidates will join an interdiscipli- Université de Montréal—Montréal, Canada ville, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7; e-mail nary team of scientists focused on the Lake Erie (Received 05/02) [email protected], website basin and/or bioremediation research utilizing the The Department of Biological Sciences of the www.fas.umontreal.ca/BIOL. In accordance with university’s new Lake Erie Research Center and School of Arts and Sciences invites applications Canadian immigration requirements, priority will Plant Science Research Center. Joint appoint- for an assistant professor position. Applicants be given to Canadian citizens and permanent ments in the appropriate centers are planned. eligible to the NSERC-UFA program (http:// residents in Canada. Université de Montréal is These positions may begin in either January 2003 www.nserc.ca/programs) are especially invited to committed to a program of access to equity in or August 2003 at the discretion of the successful submit an application. We are looking for employment for women. candidates. Review of applications will begin candidates in the field of Plant Molecular September 1, 2002, and continue until the Biology. Research specialization in plant positions are filled. Salary, fringe benefits, and development and signal transduction are Faculty Positions start-up funds are competitive. The department especially encouraged. The position will start University of Toledo, Ohio offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees. Applicants from January 1, 2003. The deadline for (Received 05/21) should submit curriculum vitae, descriptions of applications is September 1, 2002, or until the The Department of Earth, Ecological and teaching and research interests, and the names position is filled. Applicant must have a Ph.D., Environmental Sciences, a new and rapidly and addresses of three references to Chair, Search postdoctoral experience, a strong publication growing academic unit at the University of Committee, Department of Earth, Ecological and record, and must be able to teach in their field in Toledo, invites applications for three tenure-track Environmental Sciences, Mail Stop #604, French in a reasonable time. Interested applicants faculty positions (rank open) in microbial University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606-3390. should send their curriculum vitae, a description ecology, plant ecology, and plant physiology to The University of Toledo is an equal opportunity, of the proposed research, reprints, copies of their complement existing strengths in hydrology, equal access, affirmative action employer and university diplomas, and arrange for three geology, and ecology. Successful candidates must educator. M/F/V/D are encouraged to apply. have a Ph.D. and postdoctoral experience. They

THE DEADLINE FOR ADS FOR THE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER ISSUE OF ASPB News IS AUGUST 31, 2002. Check ASPB’s web site (http://www.aspb.org/jobbank/) every Friday for new job listings. Jobs with early application deadlines are listed on the web site but might not appear in the ASPB News.

28 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Job Placement Service

Academic Coordinator II, Proteomics Candidates must be U.S. citizens. For information Ph.D., or equivalent, as well as a strong record of Genomics Institute and Center for Plant Cell contact Neal Martin; telephone 608-264-5240, e- research and publications in plant biochemistry, Biology (CEPCEB) mail [email protected]. For vacancy molecular genetics, genomics, or another area of University of California, Riverside announcement and application forms contact modern plant biology. The ability and commit- (Received 05/31) Jean Weinbrenner; telephone 608-264-5357, e- ment to build a dynamic, well-funded program Under the general direction of the Director of the mail [email protected] or visit website of international stature is essential. The Institute UCR Genomics Institute and the Director of http://www.ars.usda.gov/opportun.htm. (http://ibc.wsu.edu) provides an excellent CEPCEB, the Academic Coordinator in Applications should be marked ARS-X2W-2265, research environment with more than 120 Proteomics will be responsible for supervision, and must be postmarked by August 5, 2002; or scientists, excellent equipment and facilities, and maintenance and operation of the core by second cut-off date, October 7, 2002; or until ready access to specialized techniques in Proteomics facility. The successful applicant will position is filled. USDA is an equal opportunity biochemistry, cell biology, and genomics. be expected to plan and organize all functions of provider and employer. Women and minorities Candidates should submit curriculum vitae, the instrumentation facility, including establish- are encouraged to apply. statement of research interests, and a description ment of workflow and procedures and selection of future plans. In addition, applicants should and supervision of facility staff. Applicants must arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to have a Ph.D. in biochemistry or chemistry with Plant Biologists Monsanto Company, Dr. John Browse, Search Committee Chair, two to five years of demonstrated experience St. Louis, Missouri Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington with capillary LC/MS/MS instruments and (Received 06/28) State University, P.O. Box 646340, Pullman, WA analysis of protein digests. The successful Responsibilities: Monsanto Company, publicly- 99164-6340; telephone 509-335-5496, fax 509- candidate should have experience in protein/ traded on the NYSE, is a leading provider of 335-7643, e-mail [email protected]. Review of biological mass spectrometry. Hands-on agricultural products to farmers. With our unique applications will begin on September 17, 2002, experience with the operation and maintenance combination of products and our unparalleled and continue until the position is filled. EEO/AA/ of LC-MS instrumentation, specifically a resources in genomics and plant biotechnology, ADA. Finnigan LCQ ion trap and a Micromass qToF, is we create integrated solutions to improve farm desirable. Familiarity with bioinformatics tools productivity and reduce the costs and risks of for protein identification using mass spectromet- farming. Join us in this integral role located in Research Scientist ric data is also preferred. Letter of application, our St. Louis, MO offices. We are seeking four Pioneer, A DuPont Company, Des Moines, Iowa including a curriculum vitae and three letters of individuals to participate in a functional (Received 07/01) reference should be sent to E. A. Nothnagel, genomics program to discover genes that enhance Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. is the world Chair, Botany and Plant Sciences, University of agronomic and quality traits in crop plants. leader in the discovery, development and delivery California, Riverside, CA 92521-0124. For These individuals will participate in the analysis of elite crop genetics. We have an immediate details see http://www.cepceb.ucr.edu. Evalua- of phenotypic data derived from a large opening for a Seed Physiologist to lead research tion of applications will begin September 1, collection of transgenic plants, to identify genes aimed at understanding mechanisms underlying 2002. The University of California is an for additional study and development into superior stand establishment and improving affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. products. We are looking for two plant biologists assessment of seed quality and product perfor- to play the following role in this project: -Mine mance. Duties and responsibilities include 1) analyzed phenotypic data to prioritize genes for identifying genes, pathways and markers for cold Research Agricultural Engineer further development—Integrate transgenic germination and seedling stress tolerance, 2) USDA/ARS, Madison, Wisconsin phenotypes to hypothesize gene function - developing predictive tools for stand establish- (Received 05/31) Develop strategies to confirm preliminary ment under stress, and 3) supporting efforts to The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural observations and test hypothesized modes of improve seed quality through developing and Research Service is accepting applications for a action. Required Skills: A Ph.D. in plant evaluating new vigor tests. A Ph.D. in seed Research Agricultural Engineer at the U.S. Dairy molecular biology, plant physiology or genetics is biology, plant physiology or crop science with at Forage Research Center. Incumbent will conduct required, post-doctoral experience preferred. least 2-3 years relevant experience is required. research leading to new harvest, storage, and Experience with complex data sets, basic Additional qualifications include demonstrated conversion processes of plant materials to understanding of statistical principles and ability to independently conceive and implement advance dairy farm profitability and introduce databases a strong plus. Minimal travel required. research projects, strong technical background new value-added products including energy. Full relocation benefits. Monsanto values including relevant physiological, molecular and Research objectives are to improve the technical diversity and is an equal opportunity affirmative statistical tools, strong communication skills, and and economic feasibility of bio-based products action employer. To respond to this job, access ability to work cross functionally across business and feedstocks including fuels. Specific objectives our website at www.monsanto.com. units. Strong project management and supervi- include: 1) harvesting and transport strategies sory skills are also essential. Visit that minimize cost and maintain quality; 2) www.pioneer.com for a complete job description. storage technology to allow year-round utiliza- Assistant Professor You must reference Job Code RES/PP159/PAP in tion; and 3) processing for conversion of herbage Washington State University, Pullman order to be considered. Please send a resume/ to value-added fractions, and feedstocks for (Received 06/28) cover letter and three references to: Resume biological conversion and/or fuels. Salary range: The Institute of Biological Chemistry at Processing Center, Pioneer, A DuPont Company, $54,275–$83,902 annually or commensurate Washington State University invites applications PO Box 14453, Des Moines, IA 50306-3453, or with experience. A Ph.D. in engineering, a related for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position to e-mail [email protected]. EOE field, or equivalent experience is required. begin August 2003. Applicants must have a

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 29 Job Placement Service

POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS of two academic referees, to Jean-Marc Neuhaus, biotechnology. With a powerful toolbox of trait Laboratoire de Biochimie, Université de and enabling gene technology, NovaFlora is well Neuchâtel, rue E.-Argand 9, CH-2007 Neuchâtel, positioned to commercialize a unique range of Postdoctoral Position Switzerland; e-mail Jean- ornamental plants. Through a license with PBL Southern Illinois University, Carbondale [email protected]. and the John Innes Center, UK, NovaFlora owns (Received 05/03) rights for ornamental plants to GAI, CONSTANS A position is available September 1, 2002, on a and CEN. NovaFlora is using these genes to federally funded project to study the intercellular Postdoctoral/Research Associate Position in create novel dwarf plants, early flowering plants transport of heavy metals in hyperaccumulating Evolutionary Biology and plants with altered architecture. Established plant species such as Thlaspi caerulescens and Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey in 1993, NovaFlora is a privately held company Arabidopsis halleri. These plants actively (Received 05/07) with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. As a part of hyperaccumulate metals into the leaves, yet store The Plant Genome Initiative at Rutgers Univer- our team, you will be expected to contribute to these metals in different cell types, either sity (http://pgir.rutgers.edu/) seeks an applicant the scientific and commercial success of throughout the leaf or in specific cell layers. The who applies evolutionary studies to comparative NovaFlora. In addition to expertise in plant primary questions to be addressed include (1) the genomics in cereal plants (see NSF Award molecular biology, you should be a multifaceted, heavy influx and efflux characteristics of #9975618 for abstract). Applicants with highly motivated individual with excellent mesophyll cells from hyperaccumulators that experience in large molecular weight DNA communication skills. E-mail applications contribute to these patterns of cellular sequestra- analysis, DNA sequencing, and computational including a resume, list of publications and the tion, (2) the lability of heavy metals in these cell tools are preferred. Requirements include a Ph.D. names and e-mail addresses of three references to types, and (3) the apoplastic loading of metals in in evolutionary biology or related field and good Michael Dobres at [email protected] or by the leaves of hyperaccumulators. Applicants writing skills because of the opportunity to mail to NovaFlora, Inc., 3401 Market St, Ste should have demonstrated skills in protoplast and publish extensively. Candidates with postdoctoral 350, Philadelphia, PA 19104; telephone 215-387- vacuole isolation as well as experience with and/ experience would qualify for research associate 5060, ext 204. or knowledge of techniques used to study plant level. Please e-mail (messing@waksman. membrane transport. Applicants with additional rutgers.edu) or mail your application and ask skills in radioisotope techniques, cellular or three references to e-mail or mail their recom- Postdoctoral Positions molecular biology, plant biochemistry, fluorescent mendation to Dr. Joachim Messing, Director, Mississippi State University, Starkville or electron microscopy, atomic absorption Waksman Institute, Rutgers–The State University (Received 05/16) spectroscopy, x-ray absorption spectroscopy, or of New Jersey, 190 Frelinghuysen Road, Two postdoctoral research assistant positions are membrane biology are particularly encouraged to Piscataway, NJ 08854-8020. available immediately to study molecular apply and to pursue these and related questions mechanisms of plant cell dedifferentiation. One from those perspectives. Additional projects position is to characterize and clone T-DNA related to this topic are also in progress. Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Fellowships tagged mutants in Arabidopsis. The other Interested individuals should send a letter University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill position is to study cell dedifferentiation using a describing research training and interests, (Received 05/08) proteomic approach. Candidates with back- curriculum vitae, names of references, and Several positions are immediately available for ground in plant molecular biology or biochemis- representative publications (if available) to Dr. postdoctoral and predoctoral fellows to work on try are encouraged to apply. Please e-mail your Stephen Ebbs, Southern Illinois University the mechanism of heterotrimeric G protein curriculum vitae to Dr. Zhaohua Peng, Depart- Carbondale, Department of Plant Biology, 420 signaling in Arabidopsis. Successful applicants ment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Science II, MC 6509, 1125 Lincoln Drive, will engage in research using both genetic and cell Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS Carbondale, IL 62901, or send these materials biology approaches. Experience in Arabidopsis 39762; e-mail: [email protected], telephone via e-mail to [email protected]. The position genetics, FRET analysis, bioinformatics, or 662-325-0685, fax 662-325-8664. will remain open until filled. mammalian G-protein signaling is advantageous. Applicants should first send a curriculum vitae and a research statement to [email protected]. Postdoctoral Position Postdoctoral Position The research statement must contain how the University of Nebraska, Lincoln Université de Neuchâtel, Switzerland applicant’s expertise would specifically contribute (Received 05/16) (Received 05/06) to this project and ideas on how one can advance An NSF-funded research position is available, A postdoctoral fellowship is available immedi- our understanding of G-protein signaling in starting as soon as possible (but no later than ately until September 2004 at the Laboratoire de plants. October 2002), to study either (a) the structure- Biochimie (Institut de Botanique) group of function relationships and regulatory phosphory- Professor J. M. Neuhaus. The successful lation of green leaf (C4) and algal PEP carboxy- candidate will participate in a project funded by Postdoctoral Position lase (PEPC), or (b) the (multisite) seryl-phospho- the Swiss National Science Foundation that NovaFlora, Inc, Philadelphia, PA rylation of legume root-nodule sucrose synthase addresses the mechanisms of protein sorting to (Received 05/14) (SuSy [nodulin-100]). The http:// different types of vacuoles (Plant Cell, 13, 781; NovaFlora (www.novaflora.com) is seeking a biochem1.unl.edu/ and http://psiweb.unl.edu/ Plant Physiol. 126, 78; http://www.unine.ch/bota/ Plant Molecular Biologist to optimize and faculty.html sites can be consulted for related bioch.html). Candidates should have experience develop screening protocols for transgenic plants. publications and federal grants from 1996- in cell biology and fluorescence, confocal, and/or Previous experience and expertise in high present, and research facilities. Advanced electron microscopy. A Ph.D. in plant physiology throughput analysis of transgenic plants through research experience in molecular cloning, is recommended. Send a full curriculum vitae and PCR, Southern and Western analysis is required. recombinant proteins and site-directed mutagen- a cover letter, including the names and addresses NovaFlora, Inc is a leader in ornamental plant esis, enzymology and protein chemistry, and/or

30 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Job Placement Service

reversible protein phosphorylation is RE- 1915, 2002; J. Biol. Chem. 275, 19224–19230, function in oilseed crops. Bioriginal is pleased to QUIRED. Please send curriculum vitae, reprints, 2000). Further details of our research projects offer its full-time employees a leading edge and names, e-mail addresses and telephone/fax and laboratory may be found at our web sites compensation and benefits package. Please send numbers of two references to Dr. Raymond http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~microbio/ resume along with salary expectations and three Chollet, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, frt.html and http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/ references to Xiao Qiu, Director of Research, Department of Biochemistry, George W. Beadle ~cbobst/ourlab.htm. Applicants should have Bioriginal Food & Science Corp., C/O: Plant Center, Lincoln, NE 68588-0664; e-mail considerable experience with molecular biological Biotechnology Institute National Research [email protected], telephone 402-472- and biochemical procedures and have worked on Council, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 2936, fax 402-472-7842. a molecular/biochemical problem during recent 0W9; e-mail [email protected], telephone 306- doctoral or other postdoctoral studies. Please e- 975-9558, fax: 306-975-4839. Only eligible mail or send a curriculum vitae and the names candidates will be contacted. Seven Postdoctoral Positions and addresses of three references to Professor F. EC Research Training Network DAGOLIGN Robert Tabita, Department of Microbiology, The (Received 05/16) Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Avenue, Postdoctoral Position “Development and Growth of Leaves: Identifica- Columbus, OH 43210-1292; telephone 614-292- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and tion of Genetic Networks.” Start–end: September 4297, fax 614-292-6337, e-mail State University, Blacksburg 2002–September 2005. Applicants (age 35 yrs) [email protected]. The Ohio State University is (Received 05/31) will be trained in general and specialized an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. A postdoctoral position is available for two years techniques in plant developmental biology in the Women, minorities, Vietnam-era veterans, in the Department of Biology at Virginia Tech to host lab. They will report at regular meetings disabled veterans, and individuals with disabili- work on flavonol biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. within the network, and short training periods in ties are encouraged to apply. The project aims to determine the role of participating labs will be possible. Mieke Van flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase and six flavonol Lijsebettens, coordinator: Dept. Plant Systems synthase isozymes in controlling flux into the Biology, University Gent/ VIB, Belgium. Cathie Postdoctoral Positions flavonol branch pathway of flavonoid biosynthe- Martin: Dept. Cellular and Developmental University of California at Berkeley sis. The work will involve the construction and Biology, JIC, Norwich, UK. Cris Kuhlemeier: (Received 05/29) analysis of transgenic plants to address this Institute Plant Sciences, University Bern, Bern, Postdoctoral positions are now available to study question and to begin to assess the biological Switzerland. José Luis Micol: Dept. Genetics, the function of immunophilins and tyrosine functions of specific flavonols in plants. Analysis University Miguel Hernandez, Alicante, Spain. phosphatases in signal transduction in of protein interactions with other flavonoid Christine Granier: INRA-LEPSE, Montpellier, Arabidopsis by biochemical and genetics enzymes may also be initiated. A Ph.D. degree in France. Miltos Tsiantis: Dept. Plant Sciences, approaches (PNAS, 93, 6964; PNAS 96, 4718; a relevant area and experience in molecular University Oxford, Oxford, UK. Willy Dillen: Plant Cell 10, 849; Nature 417, 567). Candidates biology are required. Virginia Tech is a land- CropDesign, Gent, Belgium. Key words: with Ph.D. degree and experience in biochemis- grant university located in Blacksburg, a college Arabidopsis and close relatives, simple and try, molecular biology, and Arabidopsis genetics town in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. dissected leaves, rice, leaf growth and morpho- are welcome to apply by sending a curriculum Virginia Tech has a strong commitment to the genesis, auxin, phyllotaxis, yield potential and vitae and names of references to Dr. Sheng Luan, principle of diversity, and in that spirit, seeks a stability, mutants, gene cloning transcript Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, broad spectrum of candidates including women, profiling, microarrays, overexpression, knowl- University of California, Berkeley, CA94720; e- minorities, and people with disabilities. Individu- edge database. The applicants have to be mail [email protected]. als with disabilities desiring accommodations in nationals of an EC member or associated state the application process should call 1-800-828- and need to have a different nationality than the 1120. Applications and three letters of reference country to which they make their application. Postdoctoral Position may be sent to Dr. Brenda Winkel-Shirley, Administrative coordinator: Christine Tire Bioriginal Food & Science Corporation, Department of Biology, Virginia Tech, ([email protected]), web site http:// Saskatchewan, Canada Blacksburg, VA 24061-0406. www.psb.rug.ac.be/DAGOLIGN. (Received 05/23) Bioriginal is the world's leading manufacturer of essential fatty acid products. Bioriginal supplies Postdoctoral Position Postdoctoral Positions some of the most respected names in the health, Plant Biotechnology Institute, Saskatoon, Canada The Ohio State University, Columbus nutrition, skin care, animal care and pharmaceu- (Received 05/31) (Received 05/21) tical industries. We are currently seeking three to A postdoctoral position is available with the Postdoctoral positions are currently available, or four postdoctoral fellows or Molecular Biologists National Research Council of Canada at the will be available soon, to study aspects of (1) the to join our collaborative research on production Plant Biotechnology Institute to investigate gene biochemistry/enzymology of enzymes involved in of nutraceuticals in plants. The position will be expression changes associated with embryo CO2 fixation including RubisCO, RubisCO-like allocated in the Plant Biotechnology Institute, induction in Brassica microspores. The PDF proteins, and pyruvate/(-ketoglutarate synthase National Research Council of Canada, Saska- should be skilled in standard molecular tech- from photosynthetic organisms and archaea toon, Saskatchewan. The successful candidate niques and preferably have interests in plant (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 4397–4402, must have a Ph.D. degree in molecular biology or development, embryogenesis (or seed biology) 2001; Photosyn. Res. 60, 1–28, 1999; J. Biol. related areas. Experience with lipid metabolism and plant biochemistry. The program will involve Chem. 276, 44027–44036, 2001) and (2) the and its manipulation is an asset. As a member of cDNA library construction (including subtractive molecular regulation of CO2 fixation in purple the team, you will be responsible for identifying hybridizations) and EST sequencing to identify nonsulfur photosynthetic bacteria (J. Mol. Biol. the genes involving lipid biosynthesis in oil- candidate up- and down-regulated genes. The 300, 1079–1099, 2000; J. Bacteriol. 184, 1905– producing organisms and then examining the candidate is expected to have experience with

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 31 Job Placement Service

vector constructions, plant transformation and Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, aromatic plants. The work will involve the use of gene expression analysis techniques (Northern, Madison, WI 53706; e-mail metabolic profiling, gene expression profiling, RT-PCR etc.). An interest in microarray analysis [email protected], telephone 608-262- and biochemical and chemical analysis to is desirable. The position is funded by a recent 1878. elucidate metabolic pathways, to identify and NRC genomics initiative (Enhancing Crop Value characterize unknown steps in these pathways, and Performance Through Genomics) and will and to investigate how these pathways are have additional technical support for cDNA Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Fellowships regulated. For more information, please see http:/ library constructions, EST sequencing and Université de Montréal, Canada /ag.arizona.edu/research/ganglab. Qualified BLAST analysis through a shared genomics (Received 06/05) candidates will have a Ph.D. in biochemistry, laboratory. This project is part of a large A postdoctoral and a Ph. D. student positions are chemistry, plant biology, or a related field. In collaborative program at the Plant Biotechnology available immediately to work on genomic addition, they will have experience in mass Institute funded by NRC that will focus on analysis of signaling during embryogenesis, and spectrometry (LC/MS and GC/MS) or protein Brassica seed development. This is initially a two- on receptor-kinase/ligand function in Solanaceous heterologous expression, purification, and year position starting at 39,805 (CAN$) plus a species. The program has already identified characterization. Experience in both areas would travel allowance. Interested applicants should numerous protein kinases and receptor-like be preferred. In addition, experience in molecular send a curriculum vitae and a letter of interest to kinases (RLK) expressed in reproductive tissues biology techniques such as PCR, cDNA library Dr. Joan Krochko at the Plant Biotechnology through a negative selection screen and the construction and RACE would also be beneficial. Institute, National Research Council, 110 sequencing of 10,000 ESTs corresponding to rare Start date is on or after September 1, 2002. Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, mRNAs. The project involves the development of Please send applications, curriculum vitae Canada S7N0W9; email [email protected], DNA microarrays for genes involved in signaling (including a list of publications), contact telephone (306) 975-4993, fax: (306) 975-4839. and the regulation of embryogenesis, and the information for three references, and a letter Hiring for this position also requires the search for new RLK ligands. The annual salary describing research interests to David Gang, applicant to submit a formal NSERC-NRC (PDF) will be from $32,000 to $35,000 (CDN) University of Arizona, Department of Plant postdoctoral application (http://hr.nrc.ca:8080/ depending on experience, and the initial Sciences, Box 210036, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036; HRB/CareerPg.nsf/GradE/NSERC). appointment will be for one year with a telephone: 520-621-7154, fax: 520-621-7186, e- possibility of renewal for one or two additional mail [email protected]. years. The positions are funded by an ongoing Postdoctoral Fellow Position NSERC genomics grant and a Canada Research University of Ottawa, Canada Chairs fund. For the Ph. D. student fellowship, Postdoctoral and Research Assistant (Received 06/03) the annual stipend may vary according to the PositionsUniversité Laval, Québec, Canada Seeking transformation specialist for insect availability of special student exchange programs (Received 06/06) resistance in rice, sorghum and cowpea. between the Université de Montréal and the A large-scale project in functional genomics Candidates should have demonstrated ability in country of residence of the student. The applied to forest trees funded by Genome Canada molecular biology; generated and analysed candidates are expected to have experience with is now offering several employment opportunities transgenic plants; prior experience with native Bt vector constructions, plant transformation and at Université Laval and the Canadian Forestry and synthetic gene systems and their manipula- gene expression analysis techniques. A strong Service, both located in Québec city, Canada. The tion. Applicants should send curriculum vitae and background in protein biochemistry (protein project will investigate the regulation of wood three names of referees to I Altosaar, Biochem immunodetection, expression, and purification) is formation (secondary xylem differentiation) and Dept, University of Ottawa, Ottawa K1N 6N5 highly desirable for the RLK/ligand project, and defense response in trees by utilizing functional Canada. an interest in microarray analysis and RNA genomics methods including transcriptome interference is desirable for the functional analysis and manipulation of gene expression. genomic aspects of signaling during embryogen- Positions include: Project Manager (Position #1); Postdoctoral Positions esis. English language is sufficient at the PDF Scientific Coordinator – Bioinformatics (Position University of Wisconsin, Madison level, and oral understanding of french is a strong #2); Research Assistant - Molecular Biology and (Received 06/03) asset for Ph. D. candidates. Please send (prefer- Bioinformatics – Several Positions (Position #3); Two postdoctoral positions are available. The ably via e-mail to [email protected]) Postdoctoral Fellowships, Molecular Biology and first position is to study potato gene expression your application with curriculum vitae including Functional Genomics (Position #4); Research profiles using microarray-based methods. We will the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses Assistants: Platform in Plant Transformation use 10,000-spot cDNA arrays to investigate of three references to Dr. Daniel P. Matton, (Forest Trees) – Several positions (Position #5). several unique biological phenomena in potato, Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Complete descriptions of positions and applica- including tuberization and polyploidization. The Université de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke Street tion deadlines are available at http:// second position is to study the structure and East, Montréal, QC, Canada H1X 2B2; web site: forgenome.rsvs.ulava.ca. Apply by e-mail to function of plant centromeres using cereal species www.irbv.umontreal.ca. [email protected]. Submit a current as models. Candidates with training in plant résumé, a cover letter, and the name and address molecular biology or biochemistry are encour- of three references. Send requested information in aged to apply. Research experience using Postdoctoral Position a single attachment (MS Word or pdf files only) microscopic techniques is desirable but not University of Arizona, Tucson with applicant’s name in filename, or insert required for the centromere position. Please send (Received 06/06) information in body of message. Write the your applications, including contact information An NSF-funded postdoctoral position is available position number in subject line. for three references (email addresses and for up to three years to use modern biochemical, telephone), to Dr. Jiming Jiang, Cellular and genomics and analytical tools to study the Molecular Biology Program and Department of biosynthesis of natural products in model

32 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Job Placement Service

Postdoctoral Position mechanisms underlying symbiotic phosphate the heart of Burgundy with a lively university and State University of New York, Buffalo transport. Amodel legume, Medicago truncatula good social facilities. Please send applications, (Received 06/18) is used for these investigations. Selected preferably by e-mail, and including a curriculum A postdoctoral position is available immediately publications from the lab: Trends in Plant vitae, summary of current research experience to study mRNA/protein interactions and Science, 2 : 54-60 (1997), Plant Journal, 25: 281 and perspectives, names and contact information regulation of Rubisco gene expression in C4 (2001), 9: 491(1996), 6: 9 (1994), MPMI for two referees to Dr. Richard D.Thompson, plants. This project will focus on expression of 14:1140 (2001), 12: 171 (1999), Ann. Rev. Plant INRA-URGAP Legume Unit, BP 86510, 21065 rbcL gene expression and characterization of an Phys and Plant Mol. Biol., 50: 361 (1999), DIJON; telephone 0033-380-693-141, fax0033- associated mRNA binding protein (McCormac et Nature, 378: 626 (1995). Projects available 380-693-263, e-mail [email protected]. al., 2001, J. Biol. Chem. 276:3476-3483). include, (1) Gene expression profiling and RNAi Familiarity with RNA/protein interactions or to dissect signaling, development and regulation transgenic plants preferred but not essential. For of the symbiosis, (2) characterization and cloning Postdoctoral Positions consideration, applicants should have publica- of mycorrhizal mutants and (3) biochemical and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, tions in peer-reviewed international journals. The genetic analyses of mycorrhizal-specific phos- St. Louis, Missouri initial appointments will be for two years, with phate transport. Requirements: post-doctoral (Received 06/18) possible renewal. Please send a letter of applica- applicants must have a Ph.D. and demonstrated Several positions in plant lipid metabolism are tion outlining previous research experience and expertise in molecular biology, genetics or available starting immediately. Projects with accomplishments, curriculum vitae, and the biochemistry. A strong publication record is openings involve structure-function studies of addresses of three references to Dr. James Berry, essential. For project 1, experience with fatty acid condensing enzyme, production of Department of Biological Sciences, University at microarray technology is advantageous. For all unusual fatty acids in oilseeds, analysis of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260; telephone 716- 645- positions, experience with plants, mycorrhizal metabolites of fatty acid and lipid metabolism 3488, fax 716-645-3369, e-mail camjob@acsu. associations and basic microscopy is preferred. using LC-MS and GC-MS, and characterization buffalo.edu. The State University of New York is To apply send a letter summarizing research of plant lipid metabolism in different plant an equal opportunity employer/recruiter. interests, a curriculum vitae and names of three organs. A Ph.D. with a strong background in references to Boyce Thompson Institute, Tower biochemistry is a minimum requirement, and Road, Ithaca, NY 14853, Attn: Human experience with plants and molecular genetics is Postdoctoral Position Resources, Job # 2002-08, or e-mail curriculum highly desirable. This research will be carried out Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, vitae to [email protected]. BTI is an independent at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Taipei, Taiwan not for profit research institute affiliated with St. Louis. The Center has recently moved into a (Received 06/18) Cornell University and located on the Cornell new state-of-the-art facility dedicated to basic An NSC-funded postdoctoral position is available campus. Boyce Thompson Institute is an equal and applied plant research. Please send resume for up to three years to identify, isolate and opportunity employer. and three references to Jan Jaworski Lab, c/o characterize genes associated to plant pathogen- Janet Oriatti, Donald Danforth Plant Science mediated hypersensitive response (HRAG), and Center, 975 North Warson Rd, St. Louis, furthermore to use transgenic technology to Posdoctoral Position Missouri 63132. The Donald Danforth Plant generate hrag-transgenic crop to study gene INRA-URGAP Legume Unit, Dijon, France Science Center is an equal opportunity/affirma- functions and to improve target crops diseases (Received 06/18) tive action employer and encourages applications resistance. The work will involve the use of A post-doctoral position is available from from underrepresented groups, including micro-arry, tissue culturing, gene cloning, gene September 2002 initially for one year, for a non- minorities, women, and people with disabilities. transferring, molecular and pathological methods french applicant to join a team studying seed to evaluate the transgenic crops. For more development in the model legume, Medicago information, please see http:// truncatula. The applicant would be expected to Postdoctoral Positions botany.sinica.edu.tw/english/personnel/224- contribute to the setting-up of a TILLING-based Carnegie Institution, Stanford, California n.html. Qualified candidates will have a Ph.D. in resource for mutant isolation in M. truncatula. (Received 06/18) biochemistry, plant biology, or a related field. In TILLING involves organising a chemically Two positions for postdoctoral associates are addition, experience in molecular biology mutagenized population so that it can be available in the Department of Plant Biology techniques such as PCR, cDNA library construc- screened by PCR for point mutants in any gene of Our research focuses on brassinosteroid (BR) tion and RACE would also be beneficial. Start interest. This facility will be exploited to isolate signal transduction, which involves the cell- date is on or after August 1, 2002. Please send mutants in selection of candidate genes for surface receptor kinase BRI1 (Wang et al., Nature application, curriculum vitae (including a list of important agronomic traits including those 410, 380-382, 2001), the GSK3-like kinase BIN2 publications), and a letter describing research related to seed development. The lab. is engaged (Li and Nam, Science 295, 1299, 2002), and the interests to Dr. Teng-Yung Feng by e-mail in genetic and proteomic analyses of seed nuclear proteins BZR1 and BZR2 (Wang et al., [email protected]. development and composition for M. Dev. Cell 2, 505, 2002; He et al., PNAS, in press, truncatula.The INRA-URGAP institute at Dijon 2002). Research projects for these positions is devoted to legume breeding and genetics, with include study of BR signal transduction pathways Postdoctoral Positions laboratories well-equipped for molecular genetics using genetic and proteomic approaches and Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, New York and providing an environment of complementary studies of the functions of BZR1 and its (Received 06/18) genetic and molecular expertise in pea and homologs using molecular, genetic, biochemical Available January 2003 to join a research group Medicago truncatula helpful to this project. The and cell biological tools. More information about studying the rbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. appointee will collaborate with other INRA the lab and the Carnegie Institution can be found Current efforts focus on signaling, development teams linked in their study of different aspects of at our web site (http://www-ciwdpb.Stanford. and regulation of the symbiosis and the Medicago biology. Dijon is an attractive city in EDU). Candidates with research experience in

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 33 Job Placement Service

molecular genetics, protein biochemistry, 2-D especially, an interest in answering basic science Postdoctoral Position PAGE/proteomics are particularly encouraged to questions, not just in transforming plants. Salary Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana apply. Salary and benefit will be highly competi- will be NIH scale and commensurate with (Received 06/20) tive. To apply, please send curriculum vitae, and experience. Please send or e-mail your curriculum A postdoctoral position is available for two years names and e-mail addresses of three references to vitae and three letters of recommendation to Dr. in the Department of Horticulture to work on Dr. , Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Stanton B. Gelvin, Department of Biological Multiple Drug Resistance p-glycoproteins Institution, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN involved in auxin transport in Arabidopsis (Plant 94305; e-mail [email protected], 47907-1392; telephone 765-494-4939, fax 765- Cell 13: 2441-2454). The project will examine telephone 650-325-1521 ext 205, fax: 650-325- 496-1496, e-mail [email protected]. the role of MDR type proteins in auxin transport 6857. Purdue University is an affirmative action/equal and the mechanisms involved in the asymmetric opportunity employer. distribution of membrane transporters. The work will involve the construction and analysis of Postdoctoral Research Associate transgenic plants as well as biochemical assays of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey Two Postdoctoral Positions loss-of function mutants. Protein-protein (Received 06/18) University of Florida, Gainesville interactions will be examined using native A post-doctoral associate position is available (Received 06/18) proteins, two hybrid analysis, FRET microscopy, immediately in cranberry stress physiology. Two postdoctoral positions are available in the and expression in heterologous systems. A Ph.D. Potential areas of study include effect of drought Department of Plant Pathology for studies on degree in a relevant area and experience in stress on processes such as water relations, gas disease resistance signaling. Applicants should molecular biology are required. Purdue is a land- exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, rooting have a strong background in biochemistry and grant university located in West Lafayette, characteristics, and on crop impacts including molecular biology. Starting salary is commensu- Indiana. Housing is readily available and fruit quality and productivity. This is a temporary rate with training and experience. Applicants moderately priced. Purdue has made a substantial position of 100% research up to two years, should submit a letter of application, curriculum commitment to plant genomics and supports one subject to annual reappointment. A Ph.D. in vitae, and contact information for references to of the largest plant biology faculties in the United woody plant physiology, Horticulture, Plant Dr. Wen-Yuan Song, Department of Plant States. Purdue emphasizes cultural diversity and Science, or related field is required. Experience Pathology, University of Florida, P.O. Box strongly encourages women, minorities, and with LICor 6400 and root imaging system 110680, Gainesville, FL 32611; e-mail people with disabilities to apply for this position. desirable. Interested candidates should send [email protected]. Applications and letters of reference may be sent curriculum vitae and three letters of reference to to Dr. Angus Murphy, Department of Horticul- Dr. Bingru Huang, Dept. Plant Biology, Cook ture, 1165 Horticulture, Purdue University, West College, 59 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ Postdoctoral Position Lafayette IN 47907-1165. 08901; e-mail [email protected]. The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri (Received 06/19) Postdoctoral Position Postdoctoral Research Position A postdoctoral position is available in the The Ohio State University, Columbus Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana laboratory of Dr. Oliver Yu. The successful (Received 06/24) (Received 06/18) applicant will use a variety of modern techniques A postdoctoral position is currently available for A postdoctoral research position is available to study the transcriptional regulation of molecular-genetic and biochemical studies of the immediately to investigate the role of chromatin phenylpropanoid/isoflavonoid pathways. light regulation of photosynthetic pigment (especially histone) genes in Agrobacterium- Helpful, but not essential areas of experience biosynthesis, plastid development and membrane mediated plant transformation. We have include molecular biology, biochemistry, formation in Arabidopsis. The project will focus previously shown (Mysore et al. 2000. An genomics/proteomics. Experience with promoter on the biochemical/biophysical characterization Arabidopsis histone H2A mutant is deficient in analysis will be a plus. The Danforth Center is a and genetic complementation of mutants Agrobacterium T-DNA integration. Proc. Natl. not-for-profit organization housed in a new defective in these processes. A Ph. D. degree in a Acad. Sci. USA 97: 948-953) that the Arabidopsis building with excellent facilities for modern plant relevant area and a strong background in histone H2A-1 gene is involved in T-DNA research. Salaries offered will be commensurate molecular biology and/or biochemistry are integration into the host genome, and other data with degree and years of experience. Includes essential. Experience in plant biology and in our laboratory indicate that mutations in other comprehensive health/dental insurance, life photosynthesis is desirable. Familiarity with plant histone genes also result in decreased transforma- insurance and retirement plan. Please send a transformation methods, microscopy, HPLC and tion. Additionally, over-expression of the H2A-1 cover letter with a short summary of research fluorescence techniques would be helpful. For gene in transgenic plants, or from an incoming T- experience, curriculum vitae, and names of three further information please see http:// DNA, results in increased Agrobacterium- references to Ms. Billie Broeker, Director of www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~plantbio/Faculty/ mediated transformation of Arabidopsis and Human Resources, RE: Oliver Yu Laboratory, armstrong.html. Start date is on or after August Brassica napus. We wish to examine the effect of Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 1, 2002. Please e-mail or fax an application, over-expressing other histone genes on the North Warson Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63132; including a curriculum vitae, list of publications transformation efficiency of recalcitrant plant e-mail [email protected]. The (with e-reprints, if available), description of species. This work will have a substantial “basic Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is an equal research interests, and names, telephone/fax science” component as we attempt to define the opportunity/affirmative action employer and numbers and e-mail addresses of three references mechanism by which histone gene over- encourages applications from underrepresented to Dr.Greg Armstrong, Department of Plant expression increases transformation-competence groups, including minorities, women, and people Biology, The Ohio State University, 108 B & Z of plant cells. Applicants should have extensive with disabilities. Building, 1735 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH plant molecular biology experience and,

34 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Job Placement Service

43210-1293; telephone 614-292-4817, fax 614- biochemistry. Experience with plant transforma- Postdoctoral Position 292-6345, e-mail [email protected]. The tion and DNA microarray analysis is preferred. Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada, Ohio State University is an equal opportunity/ Please send letter of application outlining Vancouver affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, research interests and goals, curriculum vitae, (Received 06/26) Vietnam-era veterans, disabled veterans, and and three reference letters to Dr. Michelle L. Responsibilities: Development of molecular individuals with disabilities are encouraged to Jones, Dept of Horticulture & Crop Science, markers and gene discovery for wood and fibre apply. 1680 Madison Ave, OARDC, Wooster, OH quality traits. Challenges and major issues facing 44606; fax 330-263-3887. If you have questions the incumbent for the next year: Assisting in about the position please contact Dr. Jones at development of an in-house bio-informatics Postdoctoral and/or Research Assistant Positions 330-263-3885 or [email protected]. Screening system. Collaboration with Genome BC on gene The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, of candidates will begin immediately and will discovery for wood and fibre traits – building on Ardmore, Oklahoma proceed until a suitable candidate is found. The existing QTL database. Education and experi- (Received 06/28) Ohio State University/ OARDC is an equal ence requirements: Ph.D. in molecular biology. Three postdoctoral or research assistant positions opportunity/ affirmative action employer. Must be eligible for an NSERC fellowship. available in October in the Plant Biology Division Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals Technology knowledge requirements: Genetic of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., with disabilities are encouraged to apply. marker technologies (EST, RAPD, SSR). to work on genomics of plant-pathogen Familiarity with genetic marker techniques and interactions in the newly-established laboratory software.Competency requirements and their of Dr. Kirankumar Mysore. Successful candidates Postdoctoral Positions prioritization: Ability to relate science to practice will contribute to projects involved in under- USDA/ARS, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania through the planning and execution of experi- standing Pto mediated disease resistance in (Received 06/25) mental research. Good writing and presentation tomato and non-host resistance in Medicago Two postdoctoral positions are available to study skills. Applicants should send their resume to truncatula. Hands-on experience in basic primary metabolism in the symbiosis between Ann Peters, Human Resources, Pulp and Paper molecular biology techniques is required. plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We are Research Institute of Canada, 3800 Wesbrook Experience in gene expression profiling and virus seeking highly motivated researchers to fill one Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6S 2L9; fax induced gene silencing in plants is desirable. position at the USDA-ARS Microbial Biophysics 604-222-3226, e-mail [email protected]. Starting salaries begin at $36,500 for laboratory in Philadelphia and another at the Postdoctoral and $28,800 for Research Assistant, Department of Plant Biology at Michigan State based on experience. Applicants should send a University. The research is part of a Postdoctoral Position curriculum vitae, cover letter and names and multidisciplinary collaboration among Dr.'s University of Burgundy, Dijon, France addresses of three references to The Noble Lammers (New Mexico State U), Pfeffer (USDA, (Received 06/27) Foundation, Attn: Human Resources, Philadelphia) and Shachar-Hill (Michigan State A 12 month postdoctoral position is immediately Postdoctoral Fellow –Job #PB-S095-28 or U) that is exploring primary carbon and nitrogen available to participate in a research program on Research Assistant–Job #PB-S095-28RA, P.O. metabolism in the AM symbiosis. The work to be the biogenesis and function of the vacuolar Box 2180, Ardmore, OK 73402, or you may e- done involves the use of isotopic labeling and apparatus in plant cells (Marty, 1999, The Plant mail your curriculum vitae and application biochemical and chemical analysis to study Cell 11, 587-599). The successful applicant will (please include position number) to metabolic pathways and their regulation. For join a group of cell and molecular biologists [email protected]. Applications are available on more information, please see our publications in working on the role of vacuoles in the cellular the web at www.noble.org or by calling the recent literature and www.arserrc.gov/mbb/ response to osmotic stress in plants. Research 580.223.5810 or toll free 866.223.5810. Equal AMFungi.htm and www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/ will involve intensive cellular work using opportunity employer. archive/may01/fungi0501.htm. Qualified transformed cells exhibiting altered expression candidates will have a Ph.D. in biochemistry, levels of a drought-inducible tonoplastic chemistry, plant biology, or a related field. In aquaporin (Barrieu et al., 1999, Planta 209, 77- Postdoctoral Research Associate addition they will have expertise in one or more 86). A Ph. D., obtained within the last 5 years, in The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH of the following: mass spectrometry (GC and/or cellular biology is required. Applicants should (Received 06/25) LC); NMR spectroscopy; using isotopic labeling have a solid background in the purification and A postdoctoral position is available to study the to study metabolism; arbuscular mycorrhizal biochemistry of membranes. Basic knowledge in molecular and biochemical regulation of physiology; primary carbon and nitrogen microscopy is a plus. Due to the funding source, programmed cell death during flower senescence metabolism. Start date is on or after September applicants must not be French citizens and must in petunia. Transgenic petunias with modified 15, 2002. Inquiries should be sent by e-mail to not have received a previous salary in France. biosynthesis or perception of cytokinins or [email protected] or [email protected]; The annual net salary is 22,000 euros (not liable ethylene will be used to investigate the role of applications including curriculum vitae, list of to be taxed). Applications will be accepted until plant hormones in the initiation and execution of publications, three letters of reference and a letter the position is filled. For fastest consideration, the senescence process. Investigations will describing research interests and experience either qualified candidates should send, fax or e-mail a include the identification of senescence up and to Philip Pfeffer 600 E. Mermaid Lane, letter expressing their interest and skills, a down regulated genes using petunia flower DNA Wyndmoor. PA 19038; or to Yair Shachar-Hill, curriculum vitae, and the names and e-mail microarrays in collaboration with Dr. David Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State addresses of three referees to Dr. N. Leborgne- Clark at the University of Florida. Applicants University, East Lansing, MI 48826. Castel, UPR.ES 469 phytoBiologie Cellulaire, BP should have research experience with plants and 47 870 Université de Bourgogne-21078 Dijon a solid background in molecular biology and/or Cedex ; telephone 33-0-3 80 39 62 84, fax: 33 - 0-3 80 39 62 87, e-mail Nathalie.Leborgne- [email protected].

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 35 Job Placement Service

Postdoctoral and/or Research Assistant Positions qualifications. Duration: two years. For more chromatin level control strategies for crop The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, information contact Dr. Leon Kochian by e-mail improvement. Candidates must possess MS/BS/ Ardmore, Oklahoma [email protected]. To apply, send cover letter, BA degree in molecular biology, genetics, cell or (Received 06/28) resume, and the names and contact information developmental biology and several years Three Postdoctoral or Research Assistant for references to Dr. Leon Kochian at: the U.S. experience in chimeric gene construction, site- positions are available in September at the Plant, Soil and Nutrition Laboratory, Tower directed mutagenesis, gene function analysis and/ Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., to work Road, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. or promoter analysis using plant, fungal, or on functional genomics/molecular genetics of animal systems. Ceres is located in state-of-the- legume root development in the newly-estab- Postdoctoral and Research Assistant art facilities overlooking the Malibu coast. We lished laboratory of Dr. Rujin Chen. Successful PositionsUniversité Laval, Québec, Canada offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits candidates will contribute to projects on (Received 06/06) including equity participation and 401K. Contact molecular characterization of components of See our ad under Postdoctoral Positions. Human Resource Manager, Ceres, Inc., 3007 polar auxin transport and ATP-binding cassette Malibu Canyon Rd., Malibu, CA 90265; fax (ABC) transporters in the model organisms Research Assistant 310-317-8998, e-mail [email protected]. Medicago truncatula and Arabidopsis thaliana. Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, New York Ceres, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Experience in molecular and cell biology is (Received 06/18) required. Starting salaries begin at $36,500 for Temporary Research Assistant position available Postdoctoral and/or Research Assistant Positions Postdoctoral and $28,800 for Research Assistant, January 2003 to join a research group studying The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, based on experience. Applicants should send a the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Current Ardmore, Oklahoma curriculum vitae, cover letter and names and efforts focus on signaling, development and (Received 06/28) addresses of three references to The Noble regulation of the symbiosis and the mechanisms See our ads under Postdoctoral Positions. Foundation, Attn: Human Resources, underlying symbiotic phosphate transport. A Postdoctoral Fellow–Job #PB-S095-17 or model legume, Medicago truncatula is used for Research Associate Research Assistant–Job #PB-S095-17RA, P.O. these investigations. Selected publications from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Box 2180, Ardmore, OK 73402, or you may e- the lab include: Trends in Plant Science, 2 : 54-60 (Received 06/30) mail your curriculum vitae and application (1997), Plant Journal, 25: 281 (2001), 9: The School of the Coast & Environment/Wetland (please include position number) to 491(1996), 6: 9 (1994), MPMI 14:1140 (2001), Biogeochemistry Institute at Louisiana State [email protected]. Applications are available on 12: 171 (1999), Ann. Rev. Plant Phys and Plant University. Qualifications: Master’s degree in the Web at www.noble.org or by calling Mol. Biol., 50: 361 (1999), Nature, 378: 626 botany, agronomy, ecology, plant physiology or 580.223.5810 or toll free 866.223.5810. Equal (1995). The incumbent will participate in similar field. Desired: Ph.D. in same fields and opportunity employer. functional genomics projects including gene related training. Experience in wetland ecology expression profiling and RNAi to dissect and in the measurement of plant response to signaling, development and regulation of the environmental stressors; experience conducting RESEARCH/TECHNICAL POSITIONS symbiosis. Requirements: Applicants must hold a plant flood tolerance research. Major Responsi- B.S degree in a biological science subject and bilities: Plant Eco-Physiologist- plant physiologi- Plant Molecular Genetics/Biology have experience with basic molecular biology cal ecologist to conduct laboratory, greenhouse, Research Support Specialist techniques. Experience with plants, mycorrhizal and field experiments investigating flood Cornell University, Ithaca, New York associations and basic microscopy is advanta- tolerance mechanisms of wetland vegetation; (Received 05/03) geous. To apply, send a letter summarizing measurements of anatomical and physiological Position available immediately in the Department research experience, a curriculum vitae and responses to rooting hypoxia, design and of Plant Biology to join a team investigating the names of three references to Boyce Thompson execution of growth chamber experiments; data genetic mechanisms responsible for tolerance to Institute, Tower Road, Ithaca, NY 14853, Attn: analysis and interpretation; manuscript prepara- toxic levels of soil aluminum in sorghum and Human Resources, Job # 2002-09, or e-mail tions. Salary: Commensurate with qualifications maize. Responsibilities include (1) map-based curriculum vitae to [email protected]. BTI is an and experience.Anticipated Hire Date: August 1, cloning of tolerance genes, (2) characterization of independent, not for profit research institute 2002. Application Deadline: July 31, 2002 or recombinants (physiological assays), and (3) affiliated with Cornell and located on the Cornell until suitable candidate selected. Submit identification and validation of candidate campus. Boyce Thompson Institute is an equal application/transcripts/description of interests/ tolerance genes (screen genomic libraries; opportunity employer. three references to Dr. I.A. Mendelssohn, Ref. perform detailed molecular genetic and physi- #023999, Wetland Biogeochemistry Institute, ological experiments). Qualifications: B.S., M.S. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA or Ph.D. in molecular biology, genetics or related Research Associate 70803-7511; telephone 225-578-6425. fields. Skills: Experience in molecular biology Ceres, Inc., Malibu, California with particular emphasis in genetic mapping (Received 06/24) using molecular markers (RFLP and PCR), DNA Reference RA-MB/PG-0602-Ceres is utilizing ASSISTANTSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, isolation, basic cloning, and in developing STS high-throughput genomics and molecular genetic INTERNSHIPS markers (desirable, not essential). The qualified approaches for developing new tools and candidate is a self-starter, good problem solver, strategies for crop improvement and plant Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Fellowships and capable of working largely independently. breeding. We are seeking highly qualified and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Our research is interdisciplinary, such that the exceptionally motivated candidates to conduct (Received 05/08) candidate must also work well in a team and research in a discovery-oriented team setting. We See our ad under Postdoctoral Positions. have excellent communication and organizational are seeking skilled and exceptionally motivated skills. Pay scale: depends on experience and candidates to join a team using transcription and

36 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Job Placement Service

Graduate Research Assistantships PhD). Possible research areas include: physiology, gradlsu.gs.lsu.edu/application.htm. Send all Colorado State University, Fruita molecular biology and/or molecular genetics of application material to: Dr. Fred Enright, (Received 05/13) low temperature stress in plants. Some of the Veterinary Science Dept., Louisiana State Two M.S. graduate research assistantships are previous research has involved membrane University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. available at the Colorado State University, alterations during freezing injury and recovery Agricultural Experiment Station, Western (Plant Physiology, 1991, 95: 846-852), physi- Colorado Research Center. Graduate students ological and molecular investigations of cold Graduate Fellowships will have an opportunity to participate in acclimation and dormancy in planta (Plant Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge establishing a new research project to develop Physiology 1994, 105: 95-101; Physiologia (Repeat) sunflower into a rubber-producing crop for the Plantarum 1997, 101: 8-16; Physiologia Research fellowships to support graduate study U.S. This new project is a collaborative research Plantarum 1999, 107: 98-109; Theoretical & leading to a Ph.D. in agricultural biotechnology effort among five institutions. One assistantship Applied Genetics 1999, 99: 912-920). The will be available starting the fall and spring will focus on tissue culture of sunflower. The specific research program of the successful semester of 2002/2003 in the Department of other assistantship will focus on latex extraction, candidate will evolve from discussions with the Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology at purification, and determination. A new labora- major professor. Candidates should possess a BS Louisiana State University and LSU Agricultural tory and graduate student office has been or MS in plant-related discipline such as Center. These fellowships are a part of The constructed to support this research, along with horticulture, botany or biology and have strong Gordon A. Cain Biotechnology Education for the purchase of new state-of-the-art laboratory interest/expertise in plant physiology, biochemis- Students and Teachers (BEST) program at LSU. equipment. Graduate students will have a unique try or molecular biology. Effective oral and The areas of research interest are development opportunity to interact with graduate students at written communication skills are desirable. of transgenic plants of LouisianaÕs major crops the participating institutions. With a B.S. degree, Stipend pays $14,500 (MS degree) and $16,000 (cotton, rice, soybean, sugarcane, and wheat) to the half-time stipend is $1125/month plus tuition. (PhD degree) annually. Position available in (1) improve agronomic traits (disease/ herbicide/ Positions are available immediately. Please send August 2002. Applications must be submitted as insect/nematode resistance), (2) enhance letter of application, resume, official transcripts, soon as possible. Contact and/or send resume nutritional quality for humans and cattle, or (3) and names and addresses of three references, or with names and addresses of at least three produce pharmaceutical or medicinal products for more information contact Dr. Calvin H. references to Dr. Rajeev Arora, 139 Horticulture of economic importance. Stipends for these Pearson, Colorado State University, Western Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011; fellowships are $20,000 annually. Research Colorado Research Center, 1910 L Road, Fruita, telephone 515-294-0031, fax 515-294-0730, e- facilities include state-of-the-art equipment for CO 81521; telephone 970-858-3629, fax 970- mail [email protected]. For information about molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, 858-0461, e-mail [email protected]. the research/teaching biophysics, and computation. Candidates should have a strong background in molecular biology, genetics, plant physiology, biochemistry, or Graduate Research Assistantship Graduate Fellowship Program related fields. Please complete an application Louisiana State University Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge form for Admission to Graduate Degree (Received 05/14) (Repeat) Program at http://gradlsu.gs.lsu.edu/ A graduate research assistantship is available for The Gordon Cain Biotechnology Education for application.htm and submit the form along with a student to work within the sugarcane improve- Students and Teachers (BEST) Program and a letter of interest, undergraduate and graduate ment program. The major research focus initially Louisiana State University are offering graduate transcripts, and GRE /TOEFL scores. Arrange to is to develop molecular markers for use in the fellowships specializing in the study of agricul- have three letters of reference sent to Dr. breeding program. A second phase will use these tural biotechnology. Preferred starting dates are Norimoto Murai, Department of Plant markers for marker assisted breeding. Other fall 2002 or spring 2003. Research will focus on Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State projects of interest to the candidate will be the following areas: development of transgenic University and LSU Agricultural Center, Baton considered and developed through discussion plants to enhance human health, disease or Rouge, LA 70803-1720; tel 225 578-1380, fax with other members of the sugarcane improve- herbicide resistance, and production of useful 225-578-1415, ment program. More information can be pharmaceutical or medicinal compounds. e-mail [email protected]. obtained by contacting Dr. Collins A. Kimbeng, Stipends for these fellowships are $20,000 per Louisiana State University, Department of year, and each fellowship includes a $5,000 per Agronomy, 104 M. B. Sturgis Hall, Baton Rouge, year research support grant. Requirements: A Graduate Assistantship LA 70803; telephone 225-578-7577, fax 225- bachelorÕs degree from a regionally accredited University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada 578-1403, e-mail [email protected]. U.S. 4-year institution (or the international (Repeat) equivalent); score of 1000 or better on the GRE; Funds will be available in fall 2002 to support GPA of at least a 3.00 on undergraduate and an MSc. student interested in plant stress Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Fellowships graduate coursework already completed; score physiology. The research program focuses on Université de Montréal, Canada of 550 (paper based) or 213 (computer-based) woody plant response to salinity stress. The aim (Received 06/05) on the TOEFL (required for certain interna- of the research is to provide information for See our ad under Postdoctoral Positions. tional applicants); official transcripts from each selecting salt-tolerant species for use on saline college or university you have previously sites including reclamation of degraded sites and attended; a completed Application for Admis- to develop strategies for improving salinity Graduate Assistantship sion to Graduate Degree Program form. An tolerance in woody plants. The successful Iowa State University, Ames application fee must accompany the application candidate will undertake research on salt (Received 06/06) or it will not be processed. Graduate School tolerance of red-osier dogwood (Cornus Assistantship available in the Department of Application Forms can be found at: http:// stolonifera) using physiological and biochemical Horticulture. Graduate degree program (MS or

ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 • 37 Job Placement Service

techniques. Applicants should send a curriculum stress. Research will include field and controlled ment of Biological Sciences at the University of vitae, a letter of interest, and three references to environment studies. Opportunities exist for Missouri–Rolla (UMR). Positions are available Dr. Sylvie Renault, Department of Botany, working with geneticists, molecular biologists, to study various aspects of plant biology University of Manitoba, Winnipeg R3T 2N2, and agro-industry. Experience with cotton is including cellular signaling, plant responses to Manitoba, Canada; telephone 204-474-6914, desirable but not necessary. B.S. or M.S. in plant stress, and root ion transport physiology. These fax 204-474-7604, e-mail or crop physiology or related degree. Stipend studies will be based on a combination of [email protected]. For information on $12,000 with a B.S., and $14,000 with a M.S., molecular/biochemical and biophysical the Department of Botany, please consult our plus fringe benefits, and tuition fees waived. approaches. These studies will take advantage of Website at http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/ Available immediately. Send letter of applica- novel sensor technologies that are being science/botany/. tion, resume, official transcripts, and names and developed in the Biological Sensor Laboratory at addresses of three references to: Dr. Derrick M. UMR. Students might also choose to work on Oosterhuis, Altheimer Laboratory, 1366 the development of biosensors in this program. Graduate Research Assistantship Altheimer Drive, University of Arkansas, Because of the technology development activities University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Fayetteville, AR 72704; telephone 479-575- within the lab, students will join a team of (Repeat) 3979, fax 479-575-3975, e-mail interdisciplinary researchers and students that Research evaluating the physiological associa- [email protected]. work and interact across disciplines ranging tions of novel yield and quality related traits of from biology and chemistry to electrical and cotton germplasm under environmental stresses. environmental engineering. Good communica- The funding will be used in our biotechnology Research Assistantships tion skills in English, coursework or experience and plant breeding programs to enhance yield University of Missouri, Rolla in molecular biology or biophysics, and good and quality traits in commercial cultivars. The (Repeat) GPA and GRE scores are highly desirable. Please research will involve physiological, biochemical, Funding for M.S. students is available in the contact D. Marshall Porterfield for more and anatomical evaluation of novel germplasm newly formed Environmental and Applied information at [email protected]. for tolerance to high temperature and drought Biology graduate program within the Depart-

A Special Collection of Articles from The Plant Cell September 1999–January 2001 Plant Genomics: Emerging Tools

s we enter the new millennium, approaches specially written for the plant A the age of genomics is in full swing. science community. These articles, togeth- Much more than the study of individual er with a number of research papers on genes and their functions, genomics plant genomics published during this peri- implies the study of the interacting net- od, have been bound into a volume called works of genes, proteins, and metabolites Plant Genomics: Emerging Tools. This com- that make up a whole organism. Large- pilation provides readers interested in the scale genome sequencing projects form applications of genomics to plant science the base of all genomics studies, but radi- with a single resource covering the most

Published by the ating out from this base is a host of other recent developments in this emerging field. American Society tools that allow us to figure out the biolo- of Plant Biologists gy that is governed by DNA sequence. Plant Genomics: Emerging Tools (Formerly the Between September 1999 and January ISBN 0-943088-42-9. Item 30044. Price $25.00 American Society of Plant 2001, The Plant Cell published a series of For ordering information go to Physiologists) articles on genomics technologies and www.aspb.org

38 • ASPB News, Vol. 29, No. 4 Membership Application & Subscription Form

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