Burke Brings Political Perspective to BTI Board
“Plant science is a great topic because people are much more aware of the effects of climate change and the challenges of food and energy production right now,” says Burke.
Better Biofuels: Harrison Collaborates on Sorghum Project
Maria Harrison will participate in a $13.5 million, multi-institution systems biology project with Daniel Schachtman of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to develop sorghum that is more drought resistant and uses nitrogen more efficiently.
$6.5 Million Grant May Lead to Disease-Resistant Cucurbits
A consortium of 20 researchers is using advanced genomic techniques to accelerate the development of disease-resistant varieties of cucurbit crops. BTI Associate Professor Zhangjun Fei will lead the bioinformatics and genomics part of the initiative.
Kochian Named to Agricultural Research Service Science Hall of Fame
In recognition of his significant contribution to the understanding of crop mineral nutrition, Leon V. Kochian was honored today at the ARS National Agricultural Library.
Hartz Plans to Keep BTI and Ithaca Sustainable
Hartz serves on the BTI Board of Directors where he advises and oversees the financial and administrative aspects of BTI. He also acts informally as an Ithaca representative, maintaining the strong connection between BTI and the local community.
New Time for Monday Morning Seminars
The Fall Monday Morning Seminar series began Monday, August 31 at 9:30 AM. Featuring two talks from Armando Bravo from the Harrison Lab and BTI Science Writer, Patricia Waldron.
Giving Is Gorges at BTI, August 28, 2015
BTI will be part of Tompkins County’s first ever 24 hour local online giving day. All funds received by BTI on this day will go to support the high school summer intern program at BTI.
Student Symposium Caps Off 2015 Summer Intern Program
“My experience was really valuable…It confirmed the fact that I want to do science…science doesn’t work a lot of the time…it’s having the motivation and determination to tackle problems that you’re always going to come across.” Juan G
Plant Science Research Network Launches
To promote innovative research and collaboration, the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research and the American Society of Plant Biologists are pleased to announce the formation of the Plant Science Research Network.
Teachers Become Students at BTI’s Curriculum Development Projects
Fourteen teachers arrived at BTI from schools as close as Ithaca and as far as Anaheim, Calif. to attend the BTI Plant Biology Curriculum Development Projects (CDP) Teacher Institute July 13-17, 2015
ART@BTI: Botanical Mandalas by Daniel McPheeters
On display are a selection of the hundreds of botanical mandalas Daniel McPheeters has created. “I have always been fascinated by patterns and symmetries, particularly the mandala…I love the natural forms of flowers and foliage.”
Teachers Share Strategies for Inspiring Tomorrow’s STEM Researchers
Science teachers planted switchgrass seeds, sampled algae-glycerin soap, and participated in roleplaying activities at the Bioenergy and Bioproducts Education Program’s National STEM conference last week in Horseheads, N.Y.
Dilworth Becomes First VP for Gender Equality at OIST
In her new position, Dilworth aims to increase the representation and advancement of women at all levels in the university and to create a work environment free of gender-based biases.
Plant Breeding Initiative Kicks Off with New Space at BTI
BTI officially unveils new state-of-the art facility for bioinformatics project.
BTI Welcomes New Teaching Lab Coordinator
Becky Sims will coordinate the teacher training institutes, develop and ship plant science experiment kits to classrooms nationwide and provide support for the Tompkins Cortland Community College biology courses taught at BTI.
Groundbreaking News: Former Home of BTI to Undergo Renovation
Professor Emeritus Alan Renwick attended the groundbreaking ceremony and spoke with the developer about the original BTI building’s history in Yonkers.
Scientists Find New Tool for Pathogen to Pillage Plants
“The more we understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the infection process and in plant resistance, the more effective we’re going to be in breeding resistant crops,” said Professor Greg Martin.
Get to Know the New Members of BTI’s Board of Directors
BTI welcomed three new Board members in May 2015; John W. Townsend, Alan Collmer, and Susan Brown.
Stern Visits Boyce Thompson Arboretum and Chandler Gilbert Community College
BTI President and CEO David Stern visited Arizona April 14-16 to attend the Boyce Thompson Arboretum board meeting and to speak about algae-derived bioproducts and his own algal biofuel research, at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
Maria Harrison Wins ASPB’s Dennis R. Hoagland Award
Professor Maria Harrison is the 2015 winner of the Dennis R. Hoagland Award from the American Society of Plant Biologists, given every three years, for her outstanding work on plant mineral nutrition.
ART@BTI Features Photos of Nancy Ridenour
ART@BTI features Nancy Ridenour’s photography. Public invited to reception on Thursday, April 23, 5-7 PM
Liz Brauer Wins Barbara McClintock Award
Liz Brauer, a graduate researcher in the laboratory of Assistant Professor Sorina Popescu and a student in the plant pathology and plant-microbe biology section at Cornell University, received the 2015 Barbara McClintock Award.
BTI’s First FLASH SCIENCE! Speaking Competition
You are confident you can discuss and defend your research with your graduate committee or any PhD scientist on campus. However, can you explain your research to a non-scientist? Prizes offered in BTI’s first speaking contest!
BTI Teachers Present at Emerging Researchers National Conference
Two attendees of BTI’s summer teacher workshops travelled to the Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM to present an algal photobioreactor laboratory, designed in BTI labs, for community college and middle school science students.
BTI 90th Celebration
Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research welcomed guests, staff, alumni, and colleagues to celebrate the 90th Anniversary on November 13 and 14, 2015.
BTI at Plant and Animal Genome Conference
BTI researchers attended, presented and led workshops at 23rd Annual Plant Animal Genome Conference (PAG) 2015 in San Diego.
Transatlantic Collaboration Builds a Better Database
“Biology is becoming a data science,” said Ruiz. “Biologists need to learn to use bioinformatics tools.”
Hemiptera Conference Held at Cornell, December 2014
Georg Jander, Michelle Cilia and Angela Douglas organized Hemiptera (sucking insects) conference held on December 4, 2014.
Mexican Professors Revisit BTI’s Harrison Lab
Visiting scholars Dr. Ignacio Maldonado-Mendoza and Dr. Melina Lopez-Meyer from The National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) in Guasave, Sinaloa in Mexico have chosen to spend their one-year sabbatical at BTI.
BTI Celebrates 90 Years on November 13 and 14, 2014
William Boyce Thompson founded the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research 90 years ago in Yonkers, NY. BTI moved to Cornell campus in 1978, to affiliate with a research university, and remains a private non-profit affiliate of Cornell.
BTI Professors Present to Bill Gates
BTI professors David Stern, Zhangjun Fei, and Lukas Mueller were able to brief Bill Gates and his team on their Gates funded projects and issues of biotechnology and plant science while he was at Cornell on October 1, 2014.
BTI/MIT Awarded Transformative NIH Grant to Tackle Antibiotic “Discovery Void”
$3 Million cross-cutting interdisciplinary High-Risk, High-Reward research project taps into unexplored source of antimicrobial compounds.
NABC Conference, October 8 and 9, “DNA Editing Biotechnology”
The 26th NABC Conference on the theme of “New DNA Editing Approaches: Methods, Applications, and Policy for Agriculture” convened in the Biotechnology Building on the Cornell campus on October 8 & 9.
BTI Tomato and Fruit Biology Group Awarded USDA Secretary of Agriculture Honor
BTI researchers led team that pioneered international tomato gene sequencing and genetic basis of fruit ripening. Congrats to Vrebalov, Van Eck, Mueller, Giovannoni, Fei.
ART@BTI, the Botanical Photographs of David O. Watkins Jr.
“From my backyard,” photographs by David Watkins, Jr. on display during August, September, and October. Botanical portraits, including lilies, hostas, and landscapes, with vibrant color.
Harrison and Fei Awarded USDA/DOE Grant
Research to improve feedstock that produces bioenergy.
Congratulations, Michelle Cilia!
Herbert L. Rothbart ARS Early Career Scientist of the Year and the Schroth Faces of the Future award.
ART@BTI: milly acharya
Public invited to view 40 original watercolors and prints by botanical illustrator milly acharya , at BTI, 533 Tower Road, 8-5 weekdays, through July 23.
Teach the Teachers: Algae to Biofuel
Experiments, curricula, and workshops train teachers about biofuel at BTI, thanks to Shawn Kenaley, BTI’s new Teaching Laboratory Coordinator.
BTI One of Top 25 Best Companies to Work for in New York State
The Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research (BTI) has been named one of 25 Best Companies to Work For in New York State for 2014.
Gene to Bean to Global Scene
BTI invited public to learn more about BTI’s role in recent sequencing of coffee genome, plus presentations by other Cornell researchers from diverse fields who study coffee.
Three Boyce Thompson Institute Scientists Honored as AAAS Fellows
Drs. Harrison, Klessig, and Jander honored.
Cornell Receives $25.2M in Funding for Next Generation Cassava Breeding
Cassava, a rough and ready root crop that has long been the foundation of food security in Africa is finally getting the respect it deserves.
Dr. Jim Giovannoni Receives Agricultural Research Service Award
Jim Giovannoni was one of four ASPB members to be honored by awards from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
Maria Harrison Named William H. Crocker Scientist
At its May meeting, the BTI Board of Directors named Maria Harrison as the William H. Crocker Scientist.
Invasion of the Plant Pathogens
Imagine your home being invaded by an enemy and you are unable to run away. Plants find themselves in that situation repeatedly. As they adapt to fight off pathogens, pathogens evolve to find new ways of infecting plants.
Dan Klessig: APS 2011 Noel T. Keen Awardee for Excellence in Research
Dan Klessig is the recipient of the 2011 Noel T. Keen Award for Research Excellence in Molecular Plant Pathology from the American Phytopathological Society.
BTI Scientist Dan Klessig Speaks at a Biotechnology Conference in Tunisia
At an October program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy to Tunisia, Daniel Klessig, Phd., a BTI scientist, visited Tunisian research centers and spoke at a conference highlighting biotechnology’s potential to mitigate climate change.
Dr. Gregory Martin to Receive Award for Excellence in Molecular Plant Pathology
Gregory Martin, Ph.D., has been named the recipient of the Noel T. Keen Award for Research Excellence in Molecular Plant Pathology by The American Phytopathological Society (APS).
Boyce Thompson Institute President David Stern, PhD, Awarded Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists
Ithaca, N.Y., Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) President David Stern, PhD has been awarded the Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) and will be formally recognized at the annual ASPB awards ceremony in Montreal, July 31.