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News

 

Student view: Brandon Rohnke: Advocating for science Student view: Brandon Rohnke: Advocating for science

Brandon Rohnke, a graduate student in the Montgomery lab, reflects on his recent trip to the U.S. Capitol to meet with the staff of seven legislators.

March 6, 2019 Tags: Montgomery lab, future scientists
Two PRL grad students advocate for science on Capitol Hill Two PRL grad students advocate for science on Capitol Hill

Our students were part of a MSU team that met with staff at the offices of Senator Peters, Senator Stabenow, Representative Slotkin and four other representatives to advocate for science funding.

February 21, 2019 Tags: Kerfeld lab, Montgomery lab, future scientists
Harnessing synthetic biology to co-produce high-value terpenoid biomaterials and biofuel in plants Harnessing synthetic biology to co-produce high-value terpenoid biomaterials and biofuel in plants

The new synthetic biology tools allow to produce both terpenoids and oil, a biofuel resource, in plant leaves.

February 20, 2019 Tags: Benning lab, green solutions
Faculty Voice: Berkley Walker: Beneath the ski mask Faculty Voice: Berkley Walker: Beneath the ski mask

Recently, our own Berkley Walker was recorded skiing across campus on the eve of a polar vortex. That recording went viral. Read why he thinks plants are even hardier than he was that day.

February 14, 2019 Tags: Walker lab, outreach
New insights into plant cell organelle and molecule movement New insights into plant cell organelle and molecule movement

New research reveals a protein, TGNap1, that supports the poorly-understood Trans-Golgi Network in structure, function, and motion. The study also provides evidence for microtubule-driven organelle movement, a new line of thought in plant science.

January 29, 2019 Tags: fundamental research, Brandizzi lab
Kenny Wang wins 2018 Kende Award Kenny Wang wins 2018 Kende Award

The Kende award recognizes the best doctoral dissertation in the plant sciences at Michigan State University over the last two years.

January 17, 2019 Tags: Benning lab, awards
[LINK] How do you grow plants in space? Michigan State researchers are on the case [LINK] How do you grow plants in space? Michigan State researchers are on the case

A Lansing State Journal story features Dr. Brandizzi, Evan Angelos, a fourth-year doctoral student, Starla Zemelis-Durfee, Brandizzi lab manager, and their research on how plants grow in and respond to stressful environments. 

January 3, 2019 Tags: fundamental research, Brandizzi lab
[LINK] New report says Howe and He among most highly cited researchers [LINK] New report says Howe and He among most highly cited researchers

For the fifth year in a row, the faculty members have been recognized in the Highly Cited Researchers List, an annual compilation of the global leaders in scientific influence by Clarivate Analytics.

December 17, 2018 Tags: awards, Howe lab, He lab
[VIDEO] How bacteria organize their factories, and what it means for a bioeconomy [VIDEO] How bacteria organize their factories, and what it means for a bioeconomy

MSU scientists report how cyanobacteria line up their CO2-fixing factories within them in a system that works like Velcro. The research is part of an effort to control and repurpose these factories to make products for human consumption.

December 6, 2018 Tags: Ducat lab, fundamental research
[LINK] Federica Brandizzi named AAAS fellow [LINK] Federica Brandizzi named AAAS fellow

The American Association for the Advancement of Science has recognized Dr. Brandizzi for her work on the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus, organelles pivotal to food production in plant cells.

November 27, 2018 Tags: Brandizzi lab, awards
[LINK] Cheryl Kerfeld: Inspired by nature [LINK] Cheryl Kerfeld: Inspired by nature

Cheryl Kerfeld is the Hannah Distinguished Professor of Structural Bioengineering in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and at the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory.

November 20, 2018 Tags: Kerfeld lab
New ways to control bacterial factories for future biotech uses New ways to control bacterial factories for future biotech uses

The new methods let scientists assemble the factories on demand and insert custom molecules inside them for further processing. The aim is to eventually design sustainable medical, industrial, or energy applications.

November 7, 2018 Tags: Kerfeld lab, green solutions
Christian Danve Castroverde wins NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship Christian Danve Castroverde wins NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship

Castroverde, a post-doc in the He lab who researches how climate conditions influence plant defense responses, has won a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postdoctoral Fellowship.

November 5, 2018 Tags: He lab, awards
Jonathan Walton 1953-2018 Jonathan Walton 1953-2018

We are saddened that Jonathan Walton passed away on October 18, 2018 after a brief illness.

October 23, 2018 Tags: Walton lab
Overspending on defense arsenal bankrupts a plant's economy Overspending on defense arsenal bankrupts a plant's economy

Can plants defend and grow simultaneously? The answer could help us understand natural ecosystems or help farmers increase yields without increasing dependence on pesticides.

October 22, 2018 Tags: Howe lab, fundamental research
Plants, put in the dark, reveal over 100 active peroxisome proteins Plants, put in the dark, reveal over 100 active peroxisome proteins

A new study identifies 111 peroxisomal proteins, including six newly identified ones, in dark-treated plants. It is part of an effort to fully map the functions of plant peroxisomes.

October 1, 2018 Tags: Hu lab, fundamental research
Stressed plant roots warn the rest of the plant of looming dangers Stressed plant roots warn the rest of the plant of looming dangers

When facing drought or heat stress, roots are advance scouts that warn the rest of the plant to prepare for the big 'hit.'

September 25, 2018 Tags: Brandizzi lab, fundamental research
Blazes of light reveal how plants signal danger over long distances Blazes of light reveal how plants signal danger over long distances

A multi-university study reveals how plant communication systems respond to threats from herbivores. Once wounded, plants use calcium signals to warn distant tissues of future attacks.

September 24, 2018 Tags: Howe lab, fundamental research
Koichi Sugimoto joins Yamaguchi University, Japan, as Assistant Professor Koichi Sugimoto joins Yamaguchi University, Japan, as Assistant Professor

The recent PRL alumnus from the Howe lab will train students, maintain facilities, and teach classes on analytical chemistry and lab equipment usage.

September 20, 2018 Tags: Howe lab, future scientists
Berkley Walker joins PRL faculty Berkley Walker joins PRL faculty

Dr. Walker is a broadly-trained biochemist and biologist who focuses on resolving photosynthetic fluxes from cellular to canopy scales.

September 17, 2018 Tags: Walker lab

Top Stories

2023 Anton Lang Memorial Award winners announced 2023 Anton Lang Memorial Award winners announced

Graduate student Hannah Parks and postdoctoral researcher María Santos Merino have been awarded the 2023 Anton Lang Memorial Awards at a ceremony which took place on Monday, April 24, 2023. This year’s lecture was given by University Distinguished Professor Thomas D. Sharkey from Michigan State University.

Beating the heat: Exploring algae's ability to thrive in extreme environments Beating the heat: Exploring algae's ability to thrive in extreme environments

Found in acidic volcanic hot springs, the extremophilic alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae contains a unique process that allows them to survive in extreme environments. Researchers, led by graduate student Anne Steensma from the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, are looking at this process and its potential to change how we understand the ways photosynthetic organisms adapt to environmental challenges like high temperatures. 

Why this promising biofuel crop takes a summer break Why this promising biofuel crop takes a summer break

By explaining a photosynthetic peculiarity in switchgrass, MSU researchers from the Walker lab may have unlocked even more of the plant’s potential.