Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics
Big data in plant biology.
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Plant Center Annual Retreat – October 31 – November 1, 2024. Registration now open!
The Plant Center Fall Retreat will be held at Callaway Gardens Resort in Pine Mountain, GA on October 31-November 1.
For those of you new to the Plant Center, it is an exciting 22 hours of plant science with great interactions with UGA and external speakers. We typically have 90 posters with terrific interactions to discuss plant science. We will have some Halloween fun this year during the poster social with a prize for best costume for anyone who wants to participate.
Registration is now open and will close on September 29th. Please reach out to Niki Walden (nikiwalden@uga.edu) with any questions you may have.
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Anne Frances Jarrell wins 1st Place at the NAPB 2023 Poster Competition!
Anne Frances Jarrell from the 2021 Cohort won first place for the PhD Poster Competition at the 2023 National Association of Plant Breeders meeting!
In Spring 2022, Anne Frances officially joined the Robin Buell lab as a Graduate Research Assistant. She is interested in using advances in genomics to improve crop breeding, specifically to increase sustainability and crop resiliency in the face of global climate change. Currently, this leads her to work with potatoes and their wild relatives.
Learn more about Anne Frances and her work by visiting the Buell Lab website!
Congratulations Anne Frances!
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Spring Symposium
https://plantsymposium.uga.edu/
Mission:
We aim to develop a comprehensive educational symposium aimed at equipping aspiring plant scientists with the latest advancements in the multiple fields of interest for our plant science. The symposium will also foster the development of leadership and organizational skills among future professionals in the field as it is a student-led event. This initiative involves empowering the next generation to take charge of planning and executing events tailored to their specific interests in plant science.
Vision:
The Plant Center Corteva Spring Symposium is a student-led event hosted by UGA each year. It is a day-long seminar series with speakers invited from Academia and Corteva. This year, our team has chosen the theme “Roots to Shoots and Everything in Between”. Our team aims to celebrate the interdisciplinary nature of UGA’s Plant Center. This comprehensive theme reflects our commitment to showcasing the intersection of plant pathology, ecology, genetics, plant biology, and plant breeding through our distinguished lineup of speakers.
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Dr. Donglin Zhang recently named a 2024 Plant Biotechnology Fellow by the American Society for Horticultural Sciences!
Congratulations to Dr. Donglin Zhang for recently being named a 2024 Plant Biotechnology Fellow by the American Society for Horticultural Sciences!
Fellows of the Society are recognized for outstanding contributions to horticulture in one or more of the following areas: research, teaching, administration, or extension on a state, national, and/or international level; exhibition of leadership in horticultural business or industry pertinent to and compatible with the objectives of the Society; and noteworthy contributions to ASHS objectives (“to promote and encourage national and international interest in scientific research and education in horticulture in all its branches”). This may be demonstrated by the nominee’s direct and effective participation in the affairs and activities of the Society (including its Regional Groups) and/or by active involvement in the affairs of other allied organizations having objectives essentially the same as those of ASHS (including international organizations and those in countries other than the United States).
Election as a Fellow of the Society is the highest honor that ASHS can bestow on its members, in recognition of truly outstanding contributions to horticulture and the Society.
Congratulations, Dr. Zhang!
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Integrated Plant Sciences (IPS) Hosting a Virtual Access Preview Week
The University of Georgia’s Integrated Plant Sciences (IPS) program is excited to be hosting a virtual Access Preview week!
IPS is a central graduate program focusing on a breadth of plant research topics. This program grants laboratory rotations during the first semester before committing to an advisor and lab. (https://ips.uga.edu/)
Access Preview Week with UGA IPS is hosted by UGA graduate students affiliated with the UGA Plant Center, a group that provides collaboration across research specialties in the plant sciences (https://plantcenter.uga.edu/). This program aims to increase access to the Integrated Plant Sciences program for historically under-represented groups. This is a **free event** and open to US domestic students or international students at US institutions who are interested in pursuing graduate school in the plant or fungal sciences.
This program offers prospective students guidance on applying to the IPS program. Participation in this event will include the following resources:
- Facilitated meetings with potential faculty mentors
- Individualized application feedback from current IPS graduate students
- A live graduate student panel (via Zoom).
Individuals who participate in this program will also have their application fee ($75) to our graduate school waived for application to the Integrated Plant Sciences Program.
To accommodate as many students as possible, faculty meetings and application feedback will be scheduled based on the student’s availability! Additionally, the live Q&A panel will be based on the availability of the group selected to participate in this program.
Applicants will be evaluated based on interest, availability, and need (e.g., lack of mentorship about graduate school, barriers to access, belonging to marginalized or historically excluded groups in STEM). You will NOT be evaluated based on your level of research experience or traditional academic merit (e.g. GPA, coursework, statement of purpose, CV).
To apply, follow the link below.
Applications are due October 23rd, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
tinyurl.com/IPSPreview
Do not hesitate to reach out with questions at ugaipsaccesspreview@gmail.com.
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Plant Center Retreat 2023 – December 13-14, 2023
We hope that you will be able to join us for the Plant Center Annual Retreat on December 13-14, 2023 at the Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, Georgia. The Professional Development Workshop will begin on 12/13/23 in the morning followed by the full conference.
This year’s speakers include Dr. Julie Law, Salk Institute for Biological Studies; Dr. Margaret Frank, Cornell University; Dr. Feng Zhang, University of Minnesota; Dr. Jim Umen, Danforth Plant Science Center, and Dr. Jim Birchler, University of Missouri. Some of UGA’s newest faculty researchers will also present information about their labs and research programs.
The retreat will also include a poster competition on the evening of 12/13/23 and a the Plant Center faculty meeting on 12/14/23. Registration will open on 10/16/23 and run through 11/10/23 so please plan to register early so space can be allocated for everyone who wants to attend.
Registration link: https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3HK10fAHQ9Lr6fA
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Incoming IPS Graduate Student Information
August 14 2023
10:00 AM – IPS welcome at CAGT
12:00 PM – Welcome luncheon at CAGT
2:00 PM – Graduate School Welcome Fair at The Classic Center (300 N Thomas Street, Athens, GA 30601)
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Research team receives $15.8M to modify poplar for bioproducts
A multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Georgia and two partner institutions have been awarded a $15.8 million grant over five years from the U.S. Department of Energy to reengineer poplar trees (Populus sp. and hybrids) to be used as a sustainable energy source.
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Nine Students from the University of Georgia Received the NSF’s Graduate Research Fellowship
The University of Georgia has nine new Graduate Research Fellows this fall. Including two from the Integrated Plant Sciences department, Kelly Goode, Cohort 2019, and Summer Blanco, cohort 2021. The students received the prestigious awards from the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program, (GRFP), which recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines (STEM)who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees.
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FFAR Announces 26 Awardees of FFAR Fellows Program naming Shreena Pradhan
WASHINGTON (August 11, 2021) – Climate change, a growing population and evolving pests and pathogens threaten the security of our global food supply. Employers need trained scientists to conduct research that helps farms and food systems adapt to these challenges. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and North Carolina State University are excited to announce the 26 students selected for the 2021 FFAR Fellows Program. This unique three-year program provides professional development training and mentorship to doctoral students conducting research in alignment with FFAR’s six Challenge Areas.
