Applications Now Open For the 2021-2022 Plantae Fellows Program

Are you a creative and articulate plant scientist looking to connect with other like-minded folks? We need your help to nurture and grow Plantae, the online home for the global plant science community that is powered by ASPB.  We are looking for individuals who want to become highly engaged by creating and curating content, facilitating and hosting discussions, and otherwise fostering our growing global community. The benefits of becoming a Plantae Fellow include increased visibility within the plant science community and the opportunity to develop your skills as a digital content creator and science communicator. These are volunteer positions; however, ASPB pays a small honorarium upon the satisfactory completion of the term. The term of commitment is one year, and the specific weekly time commitment is variable.

Plantae Fellows’ tasks may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Contribute summaries to the Plant Science Research Weekly series
• Guest-edit the Plant Science Research Weekly series
• Curate or develop topical resources specific to Plantae networks and collections
• Conduct and share interviews with plant scientists or scientists related to this field
• Share and engage in important discussions with the rest of the Plantae community
• Create and share articles/infographics/blog posts that educate and inform the public about plant science research
• Suggest a project or initiative of your own design
• Start or facilitate relevant discussions
• Contribute to the ongoing Changing Climates and Cultures initiative 
• Help promote activities and events hosted and convened by ASPB and Plantae

Does this look like the perfect opportunity for you? Places are limited, so we want to get a sense of who you are and where your interests lie. Therefore, to apply, please complete all of the following steps.

How to apply:

1. Create your Plantae profile and introduce yourself. If you haven’t already done so, please make an account on https://plantae.org/community/. Be sure to include a photo, complete your profile as fully as possible, and introduce yourself in this discussion post. 
2. Respond to a discussion post or create a new one in the Plantae community https://plantae.org/community/forums/
3. Select a recent plant science paper and write a summary in the style of Plant Science Research Weekly, Submit as a Google Document or Microsoft Word File in your application form.
4. Please choose and complete a task from the list below. Submit as a Google Document, Microsoft Word File, or PDF in your application form. 
   • Write an article about a public or school-based event celebrating plant science, such as a public lecture, tour, demonstration, or exhibition.
   • Write an article and/or create an infographic about a science policy issue or about why it’s so important to support plant science research.
   • Create a shareable poster, video, or infographic featuring a current plant science research topic, suitable for high school students.
   • Interview a plant scientist about their career, challenges, and research focus and post as a discussion (you can use video or audio for the interview itself).
   • Write a blog post with your insights and advice for job seekers or grant writers
   • Write a recap or summary of an event you attended at the Plant Biology 2021 Worldwide Summit
   • Have an idea not listed here? Feel free to create a new blog post of your own! 
5. Complete the application form. Be sure to include links or files from the content you created in steps 1-4. 

Deadline: Applications are due by August 20, 2021 We look forward to your submission!

If you know someone else who might be interested, please share this information with them. Please contact Katie Rogers ([email protected]) with any questions or comment below.