The Plant Cell Features December First Authors
Behind the manuscripts are researchers, professors, professionals and students dedicated to advancing the field of plant science. You’ve seen our First Authors on Twitter and Facebook— now, read more about why they chose to pursue plant sciences and click on the links to read their articles.
Kaiwei Liu
Kaiwei Liu (he/him) is the FIrst Author of The m6A reader ECT1 drives mRNA sequestration to dampen salicylic acid–dependent stress responses in Arabidopsis published 02 December 2023. He is currently a Postdoctor at CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences. His education background includes 2023 Ph.D Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences; 2016 BSc Biotechnology at Southwest University. Research interests include Retrograde signaling, RNA modification, Chloroplast translation. Personal interests include swimming and bicycling. During Ph.D. training, Liu’s supervisor, Prof. Chanhong Kim, provided him with inspiration and great support.
Rafael Andrade Buono
Rafael Andrade Buono is the First Author of A developmentally controlled cellular decompartmentalization process executes programmed cell death in the Arabidopsis root cap published 12 December 2023. Currently, Buono is a Team Lead Data Analysis at VIB Data Core. Education background includes a 2015 PhD in Botany from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA and a 2008 Biology degree from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. Research interests include cell and molecular biology, with a special interest in integrating technologies to tackle complex biological questions. Personal interests include photography.
Norbert Bollier
Norbert Bollier (he/her) is the First Author of A developmentally controlled cellular decompartmentalization process executes programmed cell death in the Arabidopsis root cap published 12 December 2023. Bollier is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Bordeaux. Education background includes: 2016 Ph.D in Plant biology (Bordeaux University), 2013 MSc in Plant Biology and Biotechnology (Bordeaux University), 2011 BSc Biology (Bordeaux University). Research interests include plant growth, development and abiotic stress. Personal interests include baking pastries, badminton, drawing, and video games.
Samantha Vivia The
Samantha Vivia The (she/her) is the First Author of UMAMIT44 is a key player in glutamate export from Arabidopsis chloroplasts published 13 December 2023. She is currently a Research Assistant at Washington State University (Pullman, WA, USA). Education background includes a 2016 MSc Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Washington State University (USA) and a 2011 BSc in Biology at Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia). Her research interests include characterization of chloroplast transporters controlling the partitioning of nitrogen compounds (e.g. amino acids) in Arabidopsis thaliana, and how these transporters affect leaf metabolism and the overall plant physiology. Personal interests include baking, cooking, and taking care of houseplants.
During Samantha’s undergraduate studies in Indonesia, she did a final research project on macroalgae growth and an interdisciplinary internship project on carrageenan characterization at University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Her research interest was piqued in the desire to better understand interconnected metabolic pathways in plants. Encouraged by outstanding mentors and colleagues, Samantha decided to pursue a PhD degree at Washington State University with Professor Mechthild Tegeder, focusing on the characterization of various chloroplast protein transporters in the model system Arabidopsis.
George Alexandru Caldarescu
George Alexandru Caldarescu is the First Author of Interplay of EXO70 and MLO proteins modulates trichome cell wall composition and susceptibility to powdery mildew published 20 December 2023. Caldarescu is a PhD student at the Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague. Research interests include Cell polarity, Growth regulation, Biotic stress, Abiotic stress. Personal interests include running, photography and hiking. Caldarescu has always been attracted to how plants can adapt to various stresses and how they respond to different environmental stimuli.
Jan Wilhelm Hübbers
Jan Wilhelm Hübbers (he/his) is the First Author of Interplay of EXO70 and MLO proteins modulates trichome cell wall composition and susceptibility to powdery mildew published 20 December 2023. He is currently a Postdoctoral researcher at RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Biology I, Unit of Plant Molecular Cell Biology. Education background includes: 2022 Dr. rer. nat. at RWTH Aachen University, 2018 Master of Science (Biology) at RWTH Aachen University/Fraunhofer IME, 2016 Bachelor of Science (Biology) at RWTH Aachen University.
His research interests include Plant cell biology, Cell wall, Targeted exocytosis, Plant pathogen interactions, Protein biochemistry, and Statistics. Personal interests include Football (both, the American and British version), Fitness, Cycling, Illustration/Design, Piano, Politics.
Hübbers believe that plant science potentially holds solutions for various problems such as famines, the extinction of species and climate change.
Wen-qiu Wang
Wen-qiu Wang (he) is the First Author of Identification of miRNA858 long-loop precursors in seed plants published 19 December 2023. He is currently a Professor at Anhui Agricultural University. He earned a Ph.D in Pomology at Zhejiang University in 2020 and a Bachelor of Agriculture, Horticulture, at Zhejiang University in 2015. Wang’s research interests include plant small RNA and fruit quality. Personal interests include badminton. Wang studies plant biology because the flowers and fruits of plants are beautiful and attractive.
Guozheng Dai
Guozheng Dai (He/him) is the First Author of Hypothetical chloroplast reading frame 51 encodes a photosystem I assembly factor in cyanobacteria published 20 December 2023. He is currently an Associate Professor at Central China Normal University. Dai’s education background includes a 2012 Ph.D in Botany at Central China Normal University; a 2009-2011 Joint doctoral training at Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine at University of Tübingen; and a 2005 BSc in Biology from Huanggang Normal University. His research interests are photosynthesis and cyanobacterial biology, and his personal interests include hiking, fishing, and singing.
Dai likes to stroll through the woods and enjoys the tranquility. The green leaves under the sun are full of vitality, the oxygen rich environment makes people feel refreshed, and the photosynthesis of plants created by nature fills him with awe and interest. He hopes to explore more secrets of photosynthesis.
Liang-Zi Zhou
Liang-Zi Zhou (she/her) is the First Author of The RALF signaling pathway regulates cell wall integrity during pollen tube growth in maize published 23 December 2023. She is currently a Professor at Shandong Agricultural University. Education background includes a 2013 Ph.D in Cell Biology at Shandong Agricultural University and a 2008 BSc in Biotechnology at Shandong Agricultural University. Zhou’s research interests include plant reproduction and plant development. Her personal interests include knitting and singing.
Zhou’s interest in plant reproduction research began when she was a PhD student. A lot of distinguished pioneers in this research field that she met in meetings and symposiums inspired and encouraged her to continue on this track. Of course, the most important mentors for her include her supervisor in the last decade, Dr. Thomas Dresselhaus.
Shumin Li
Shumin Li (she/her) is the First Author of The E3 ligase TaGW2 mediates transcription factor TaARR12 degradation to promote drought resistance in wheat published 11 December 2023. Li is currently at Northwest A&F University. She earned a 2023 Ph.D in Plant protection at Northwest A&F University; in 2016, she earned a BSc in Plant protection at Northwest A&F University. Research interests include abiotic stress. Personal interests include running. Her Professor, Professor Hude Mao, inspires her and mentors her in her research.
