September 12
Session 1 - Networking Part 1
| Time | Subject |
|---|---|
| 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Registration Poster Setup |
| 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Networking Session 1 Panel
Reception |
End of Day 1
September 13
Session 2 - Plenary Session
| Time | Subject |
|---|---|
| 8:30 - 9:15 a.m. | Sarah Lebeis, Michigan State University "Untangling Microbial Complexity to Reveal Drivers of Root Microbiome Assembly and Function" |
| 9:15 - 9:30 a.m. | Coffee Break |
Session 3 - Plant Science in a Changing Climate: Adaptation, Resilience, and Sustainable Solutions
As climate change accelerates, plants face increasing challenges from extreme temperatures, drought, salinity, and shifting ecosystems. This session will explore the latest advances in plant adaptation and resilience strategies, focusing on molecular, physiological, and ecological responses to climate stress. Discussions will highlight innovative breeding approaches, biotechnological interventions, and nature-based solutions for sustainable agriculture. By integrating cutting-edge research with practical applications, this session aims to provide insights into building climate-resilient crops and ecosystems, ensuring food security and environmental sustainability in an era of rapid change.
| Time | Subject |
|---|---|
| 9:30 - 9:50 a.m. | Session Chair Alizée Malnoë, Indiana University Bloomington "Regulation and mechanism of photoprotective qH in Arabidopsis" |
| 9:50 - 10:10 a.m. | Manish Tiwari, University of Wisconsin-Madison “Nodulation Breakdown in the Heat: A Peptide Story” (15-min presentation, 5-min Q&A) |
| 10:10 - 10:30 a.m. | Andrea Glassmire, Michigan State University “Insect Scales, Water Stress, and Shoreline Takeover: The Metabolome Behind a Reed’s Invasion” (15-min presentation, 5-min Q&A) |
| 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. | Samuel Hazen, University of Massachusetts “Temperature signals drive grass secondary cell wall thickening” (12-min presentation, 3-min Q&A) |
| 10:45 - 11:05 a.m. | Flash talk speakers (3-min presentations)
|
| 11:05 - 11:20 a.m. | Coffee Break |
Session 4 - Biotic Interactions in Plant Science: From Molecular Mechanisms to Ecosystem Dynamics
Plants exist in complex networks of interactions with microbes, insects, and other organisms that shape their growth, health, and adaptation. This session will delve into the diverse biotic interactions that influence plant function, from molecular signaling in symbiotic relationships to large-scale ecosystem dynamics. Topics will include plant-microbe associations, pathogen defense mechanisms, mycorrhizal symbioses, and the role of plant interactions in ecosystem stability. By bridging molecular insights with ecological perspectives, this session aims to uncover new strategies for enhancing plant health, improving crop productivity, and promoting biodiversity in natural and agricultural systems.
| Time | Subject |
|---|---|
| 11:20 - 11:40 a.m. | Session Chair Adam Mott, University of Toronto – Scarborough "The evolution and expression of plant cell surface receptors" |
| 11:40am - 12:00 p.m. | Deepak Bhandari, Michigan State University “The Remodeling Cell Wall: A Battlefield of Immune Signaling and Pathogen Manipulation” (15-min presentation, 5-min Q&A) |
| 12:00 - 12:20 p.m. | Aditi Bhat, University of Pittsburgh “Discovery of novel receptor-like kinases in regulation of root microbiome in Arabidopsis thaliana” (15-min presentation, 5-min Q&A) |
| 12:20 - 12:35 p.m. | Sadie Hall, Ohio State University “Rooted in Resilience: Milkweed, Microbes and Metabolic Mapping" (12-min presentation, 3-min Q&A) |
| 12:35 - 12:55 p.m. | Flash talk speakers (3-min presentations)
|
| 12:55 - 2:30 p.m. | Lunch Break |
Session 5 - Integrative Omics, Systems, and Synthetic Biology Approaches in Plant Science
Unraveling the complexity of plant biology requires a systems-level understanding of gene regulation, metabolic networks, and cellular dynamics. This session will explore cutting-edge omics technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) and their integration into systems and synthetic biology approaches to decode plant function. Discussions will highlight breakthroughs in multi-omics data analysis, predictive modeling, and the engineering of novel plant traits for improved stress tolerance, nutrient use efficiency, and biosynthetic capabilities. By leveraging these advanced tools, researchers are unlocking new possibilities for precision crop improvement and sustainable agriculture in a rapidly changing world.
| Time | Subject |
|---|---|
| 2:30 - 2:50 p.m. | Session Chair Ronan O’Malley, University of Chicago "The gene regulatory landscape of flowering plants" |
| 2:50 - 3:10 p.m. | Isaiah Kaufman, Michigan State University “How to maximize protein production in plants? Guidance for codon optimization from multi-omics analysis in diverse species” (15-min presentation, 5-min Q&A) |
| 3:10 - 3:30 p.m. | Fabio Gomez-Cano, University of Michigan “Defining the regulatory grammar of stress responses in maize” (15-min presentation, 5-min Q&A) |
| 3:30 - 3:45 p.m. | Rafael Venado, University of Wisconsin-Madison “Single-Cell Omics Reveal Gene Networks Behind Mucilage Production in Nitrogen-Fixing Maize and Sorghum Roots” (12-min presentation, 3-min Q&A) |
| 3:45 - 4:05 p.m. | Flash talk speakers (3-min presentations)
|
| 4:05 - 4:30 p.m. | Coffee Break |
| 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Poster Session 1 |
| 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. | Faculty Networking and Business Meeting |
September 14
Session 6 - Networking Part 2
| Time | Subject |
|---|---|
| 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Poster Session 2 |
| 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Professional Development Workshop |
| 11:30 - 11:45 a.m. | Coffee Break |
| 11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Awards Ceremony Closing Remarks |
End of Day 3
Note: Posters to be taken down by 12 p.m. on September 14