Recognizing Plant Physiology first authors: Kazunari Nozue
, first author of Network analysis reveals a role for salicylic acid pathway components in shade avoidance
Current Position: Staff Research Associate, University of California, Davis, California
Education: Ph. D and M.S. in Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan; B.A. in Liberal Arts, International Christian University
Non-scientific Interests: Travel, soccer, and Data analysis for biology, sports (synchronized swimming etc.), and family
Brief bio: Since I was an undergraduate student under supervision of Prof. Haruko Kazama, I have been fascinated with plants responding to changes in light quality. For my PhD thesis, under the mentorship of Prof. Masamitsu Wada, I learned molecular biology and photobiology working on the fern Adiantum, researching the mysteries of a chimeric photoreceptor, which is now called neochrome. During seventeen years in UC Davis, I mostly worked in Prof. Julin Maloof’s lab to understand mechanisms underlying responses to light in plants. In the Maloof lab I have headed investigations such as understanding how rhythmic growth is explained by external coincidence of external cues and the internal circadian clock, and involvement of defense mechanisms in shade avoidance responses of adult plants. It has been fun to build experimental systems (time-lapse imaging device), develop data acquisition tools, analyze phenotypic and transcriptomic data with R/bioconductor, and manage projects with free online tools.
