The Plant Cell Features October 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.
Jingming Wang
Jingming Wang(she/her) is the First Author of Evolution and functional divergence of glycosyltransferase genes shaped the quality and cold tolerance of tea plants published 04 October 2024. Wang is a Postdoctoral Researcher at State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University. Education background includes 2024 Ph.D Agriculture at Anhui Agricultural University; 2019 BSc Agriculture at Anhui Agricultural University.
Research interests include Plant metabolism and abiotic stress. Personal interests include swiming, hiking and rock music.
“I developed a love for plants by observing the diversity, beauty, and complexity of plant life in nature. Understanding how plants grow, reproduce, and interact with their environment can be deeply intriguing.”
Aude Maugarny
Aude Maugarny (she/her) is the First Author of MIR164B ensures robust Arabidopsis leaf development by compensating for compromised POLYCOMB REPRESSIVE COMPLEX2 function published 07 October 2024. She is an Assistant Professor at Sorbonne Université.
Education background includes: 2022 post-doc at Institut Curie Paris; 2017 PhD Université Paris-Sud; 2014 Msc Plant biology Université Paris-Sud; 2011 Bsc Biology Ecole Normale Supérieure. Research interests include Plant development, Seed biology, gene expression regulation. Personal interests include Yoga, Hiking (in the mountains).
“I initially wanted to become a veterinarian. However, when I started my higher education in biology, I discovered the superpowers of plants and completely switched my career plans. I was totally fascinated by what I was learning. I can still remember the joy I felt the first time I was shown a Kalanchoe with its tiny seedlings hanging on its leaves. Today, I feel incredibly lucky to be a plant science assistant professor. Plant science is not always the student’s favorite topic, but I like the challenge. I try to remember how I initially fell in love with plants and convey my enthusiasm in class.“
Nolwenn G
Nolwenn Guéguen (she/her) i is the First Author of Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol synthase isoforms play diverse roles inside and outside the diatom plastid published 09 October 2024.
She works as a Research Engineer at iMEAN (French start-up). Education background includes: 2022 Ph.D in Molecular Biology at Grenoble Alpes University ; 2016 MEng in Biochemistry Engineering at INSA Toulouse ; 2016 MRes in Plant Biosciences at Paul Sabatier University; 2011 BSc Renée Cassin high school.
Research interests include Microalgae, lipids, metabolism, macroalgae, fundamental research, biotechnologies.Personal interests include Karate, painting, pyrography, board games, hiking.
“I have always been attracted to plant science, but this took a new turn when I was given the opportunity to work on microalgae during my phD! I fell in love with these tiny organisms, and really enjoyed diving into the lipid metabolism of one of its model microalgae, Phaeodactylum tricornutum.I am currently working as a research engineer in a young start-up, iMEAN, in which I can expand my knowledge on microorganism metabolism and support the development of amazing biotech projects.”
Qi He
Qi He (she) is the First Author of OsKANADI1 and OsYABBY5 regulate rice plant height by targeting GIBERELLIN 2-OXIDASE6 published 09 October 2024.
She is a Postdoc at Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, China. Education background includes Ph.D., in microbiology, at Huazhong Agricultural University.
Research interests include Plant hormone signaling, Leaf polarity development, Chromophorylation of cyanobacteriochrome. Personal interests include Traveling，Delicious food.
“I studied Plant Protection at Northwest A&F University for my undergraduate degree and then joined Professor Zhao Kaihong’s laboratory at Huazhong Agricultural University for my master’s and doctoral studies, focusing on the interacting proteins of cyanobacteriochrome. I discovered that the interacting proteins of cyanobacteriochrome regulate the chromophorylation of cyanobacteriochrome by binding to adenosine and inducing a conformational change. The diverse forms of plant species are a marvel that attests to the magical creativity of nature. In my postdoctoral phase, I chose to focus on plant development and joined Dr. Wang Quan’s lab at the Shenzhen Genomics Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, where I embarked on research with rice as the subject，and explored the regulatory network of the rice leaf polarity development gene OsKAN1. In this work, we have elucidated the molecular mechanism by which the OsKAN1-OsYAB5-OsGA2ox6 signaling pathway regulates rice plant height, and demonstrated that OsKAN1 and OsYAB5 can form a functional complex that affects the height of rice plants.
These varied research experiences have not only broadened my horizons but also made my approach to scientific questions more diverse, making scientific research more interesting.”
Minjae Kim
Minjae Kim is the First Author of The DYRKP1 kinase regulates cell wall degradation in Chlamydomonas by inducing matrix metalloproteinase expression published 14 October 2024. Kim is a Senior Researcher at Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology.
Education background includes: 2020 Ph.D Life Science at Hanyang University; 2014 BSc Molecular & Life Science at Hanyang University. Research interests include Algal physiology, Carbon metabolism, Abiotic stress. Personal interests include Singing, Gardening.
How did you become interested in plant science?: Unlike animals that bark or act anxiously when stressed, plants appear calm or even dull. Having grown plants since I was a child, I have learned that plants are not only sensitive to environmental stress, but also try to adapt to changes. So I wanted to understand the regulatory mechanisms of cellular metabolism under abiotic stress conditions. Now, I am trying to contribute to expanding the knowledge of plant science through microalgae, a distant relative of plants and my little friend.
Who is your research mentor?: During my postdoctoral research in France (BIAM, CEA Cadarache), Dr. Yonghua Li-Beisson, Dr. Fred Beisson, and Dr. Gilles Peltier inspired me a lot. Their attitude, philosophy, and passion for science impressed me. I plan to carry forward what I learned from them in my new lab.”
Anirban Baral
Anirban Baral (he/him) is the First Author of TYPHON proteins are RAB-dependent mediators of the trans-Golgi network secretory pathway published 14 October 2024. He is a Researcher (Cell Biology), Enza Zadeb Research & Development b.v. The Netherlands.
Education background includes 2016 Integrated MSc-Ph.D in Biology, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India. Research interests include Cell Biology, plant development, hormone signaling, regeneration. Personal interests include Gardening, cooking, reading, impressionist art.
“My interest in plant biology piqued after listening to a lecture on the ABC model of flower development during my masters studies. The fact that the beauty of flowers are controlled by genes in mathematical precision really opened up my eyes. What really motivated me to work in plant biology was the unique regulation of plant development by environment stimuli. Land plants do not move, so their development has to be plastic enough to tolerate short and long term environmental fluctuations. This is an unique niche to study that attracted me to cell and developmental biology of plants. After my doctoral studies in India on salt tolerance and endocytosis (my first ever publication too was in The Plant Cell), I moved to Umea in Northern Sweden. During my postdoc there in Prof. Rishikesh Bhalerao’s group. I worked on vesicular trafficking as well as a project on the impact of mechanical cues of plant development. After this, I moved to Wageningen University, The Netherlands as a postdoc in Prof. Leonie Bentsink’s group to study the secrets of seed dormancy. Apart from my doctoral and postdoctoral supervisors, two plant biologists have made a lasting impact on me through their brilliance & curiosity: Dr. Kalika Prasad (IISER-Pune, India) and Dr. Olivier Hamant (ENS-de-Lyon, France). While thinking about positive influences in my career, they come to mind.
Beyond academia, I joined Enza Zaden in January, 2022. My research interests are continuing in the field of plant cell biology but with a focused goal of delivering products that contribute to the mission of feeding the world.”
Xingxiang Chen
Xingxiang Chen (he/him) is the First Author of Four MYB transcription factors regulate suberization and non-localized lignification at the root endodermis in rice published 15 October 2024. He is a Ph.D Student at Guangxi University. Education background includes: 2024 Ph.D in biology at Guangxi University; 2019 MSc in biochemistry and molecular biology at Guangxi University; 2015 BSc in biotechnology at Guangxi University.
Research interests include Root development, Plant nutrition, and abiotic stresses. Personal interests include Running, Swimming and Hiking.
“Professor Jixing Xia is my PhD advisor and has given me great guidance and encouragement in my research. This study found that OsMYB39a/41/92a/92b regulate endodermal suberization and non-localized lignification by modulating the expression of multiple genes related to the biosynthesis and polymerization of lignin and suberin in rice. We will further investigate the regulatory mechanisms of endodermal suberization and lignification in rice roots.”
Xia Yang
Xia Yang (she/her) 杨霞 is the First Author of A single dominant GLOBOSA allele accounts for repeated origins of hose-in-hose flowers in Sinningia (Gesneriaceae) published 18 October 2024. She is an Associate Professor at Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Education background includes: 2010 Ph.D Botany at Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences; 2005 MSc Biophysics at Anhui Agricultural University. Research interests include Floral symmetry, floral development. Personal interests include Reading, Travelling.
“The beauty of flowers caught my attention when I was young. When I was in college, I chose to major in biology without hesitation. After I was enrolled as a PhD student at Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, I started to focus on floral symmetry under the supervision of Prof. Yin-Zheng Wang. Thanks to him, I entered this research field. We collaborated to publish two research articles in the Plant Cell, and both of them tell the story of how zygomorphic flowers are repeatedly evolved. Several years ago, I accidentally got several genetic materials of hose-in-hose flowers, a kind of uncommon double flower with two-whorled corolla tubes but recurring in the Sinningia genus. Their lovely appearance immediately caught my attention and prompted me to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, we highlight the significance of wide within-clade hybridization in the recurrence of hose-in-hose flowers in Sinningia.”
Yasuhiro Kadota
Yasuhiro Kadota (he/his) is the First Author of The leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase QSK1 regulates PRR-RBOHD complexes targeted by the bacterial effector HopF2Pto published 21 October 2024. Kadota is a Senior Research Scientist, RIKEN, Japan.
Education background includes: 2010 Post Doc, The Sainsbury Laboratory, UK; 2006 Post Doc, RIKEN, Japan (JSPS research fellowship and RIKEN fellowship); 2005 phD Tokyo University of Science. Research interests include Plant immunity, Immune receptor signaling.
Personal interests include Enjoy traveling, visiting old temples and shrines, Sake tasting, pottery art.
“From a young age, I was fascinated by the Samurai era’s battle history in Japan. This interest in conflict and strategy grew into a deep curiosity about the molecular battles between plants and microbes, which led me to become a plant scientist focused on understanding how these organisms recognize and fight each other.”
Yukihisa Goto
Yukihisa Goto (he/him) is the First Author of The leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase QSK1 regulates PRR-RBOHD complexes targeted by the bacterial effector HopF2Pto published 21 October 2024. Goto is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Institute of Plant Microbial Biology, University of Zurich.Education background includes: 2019 Ph.D in Science at University of Tokyo, 2015 MSc in Agriculture at University of Tsukuba, 2013 BSc in Agriculture at University of Tsukuba. Research interests include Plant-microbe interactions, Plant Immunity, Plant Breeding. Personal interests include Listening to music, Playing the trumpet.
“Growing up in a family of farmers, I was constantly surrounded by a wide variety of plants throughout my childhood. This early exposure fostered my interest in plants and ultimately inspired me to pursue a career as a plant biologist.”
Longfei Zhu
Longfei Zhu（he) is the First Author of The kinase ATR controls meiotic crossover distribution at the genome scale in Arabidopsis published 29 October 2024. He is an Assistant Professor at Jinggangshan University. Education background includes: 2022 Ph.D Plant Genetic at Adam Mickiewicz University 2013 MSc in Forest Genetic Breeding at Zhejiang University A&F; 2010 BSc Bioengineering at Huaihua University. Research interests include Plant meiosis. Personal interests include PC games.
“Professor Piotr Ziółkowski ‘s guidance and support by scientific discussions and ideas were instrumental in my research. It has enabled me to gain a further understanding and insight into the mechanisms of crossover frequency control in plants.”
