2024 NAASC Election Results
Announcing 5 new community members elected to NAASC!
NAASC is happy to announce the outcome of the 2024 election! There were 11 candidates for faculty and 9 for early career scholars. We thank all those that agreed to stand for the election and provide candidate statements! We hope to include many of those that were not elected this time in upcoming activities or on future ballots.
Navigate here for the full text of statements by all elected NAASC members.
“As a NAASC member, I will be committed to ensuring that Arabidopsis continues to serve as a critical model for advancing plant science in the face of evolving challenges like climate change. I aim to support the Arabidopsis community in maintaining its leadership in scientific discovery while also broadening its impact on pressing global issues and strategizing about on how to obtain the resources to leverage fundamental Plant Biology for solving global issues. This includes advocating for the critical role of Arabidopsis in addressing climate change, sustainability, and food security by fostering interdisciplinary research and collaboration.”
“As a NAASC member I want to contribute to the Arabidopsis community in three areas: (1) Mentoring and Leadership by enhancing the training and mentoring opportunities for the next generation of scientists using Arabidopsis as an important model organism, including through training students, creating resources, facilitating public engagement about the importance of Arabidopsis research, and ongoing NAASC DEI initiatives. (2) Educational programs, especially through creating a plant cell biology image repository. (3) Policy: As climate change becomes a major issue in agriculture, more federal agencies are leaning away from Arabidopsis funding and more towards funding research in crop plants. I will work to create a public lecture series on the importance of basic Arabidopsis research in solving climate change issues.”
“I am committed to outreach, using social media to share educational content about Arabidopsis research and its broader implications for plant studies. As a Mexican researcher who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have navigated a variety of academic and sociopolitical challenges, driven by my commitment to making a meaningful contribution to the field. It is one of my long-held beliefs that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) is the lifeblood of our discipline, allowing us to cultivate a multifaceted community of leading experts and innovative researchers whose voices are valued and heard. I strive to ensure that my work extends beyond the laboratory, breaking down barriers and cultivating a greater appreciation for the science of plant development.”
“Extending scientific knowledge beyond the bench and into the community is one of my top priorities as an early career scientist. I envision using my communication and illustration skills to create resources for NAASC to increase engagement, especially for newer members of the community. Specifically, I envision creating illustrated infographics and resources for the Arabidopsis community website that engage younger researchers about the community’s latest Arabidopsis research, tools, and discoveries. I would also like to continue NAASC’s mission in advancing DEIB by fostering inclusive spaces where scientists of all backgrounds and perspectives are valued and empowered.”
“I have substantial experience serving the scientific community and was elected as an early career scholar to NAASC last year where I actively contributed to organizing ICAR 2024. Additionally, I serve on the Plant Cell Rubrics committee of the Plant Cell Atlas (PCA) and am the founding leader of the Plant Method Exchange Platform (PMEX), supported by NAASC.
I have had the privilege of collaborating with researchers around the world. My collaborators and colleagues span diverse gender identities, races, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations. I believe that an environment of mutual respect and inclusion is critical to the success of our research project. As a research scientist, I am committed to continuing my collaboration with NAASC, seeking to provide equal opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to ensure they have access to and can actively participate in the group’s scientific activities.”
