Mary Opperman joins BTI Board of Directors

Mary Opperman joins BTI Board of Directors

Mary George Opperman, President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Cornell University, has officially joined the Boyce Thompson Institute’s (BTI’s) Board of Directors.

BTI scientists win awards at annual Northeast ASPB meeting

BTI scientists win awards at annual Northeast ASPB meeting

Two researchers from the Boyce Thompson Institute earned 1st place honors at the 2018 Northeast ASPB Section annual meeting. The meeting was hosted by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and the theme was Translational Research for Improving Crop Productivity.

Research reveals a new direction for halting the citrus greening epidemic

Research reveals a new direction for halting the citrus greening epidemic

New clues to how the bacteria associated with citrus greening infect the only insect that carries them could lead to a way to block the microbes’ spread from tree to tree, according to a study in Infection and Immunity by scientists at Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

New ‘Tomato Expression Atlas’ dives deep into the fruit’s flesh

New ‘Tomato Expression Atlas’ dives deep into the fruit’s flesh

Researchers at BTI, Cornell and USDA published a spatiotemporal map of gene expression across all tissues and developmental stages of the tomato fruit – the genetic information underlying how a fruit changes from inside to out as it ripens. Their data is available in the new Tomato Expression Atlas (TEA).

Pumpkin genomes sequenced revealing uncommon evolutionary history

Pumpkin genomes sequenced revealing uncommon evolutionary history

For some, pumpkins conjure carved Halloween decorations, but for many people around the world, these gourds provide nutrition. Scientists at Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and the National Engineering Research Center for Vegetables in Beijing have sequenced the genomes of two important pumpkin species, Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata.

Wading into discovery: BTI’s 2017 PGRP Interns

Wading into discovery: BTI’s 2017 PGRP Interns

Motivated, curious, and eager to discover, BTI’s 2017 Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP) interns are ready to dive into a 2+ month transformative experience that will prepare them for their future career.

Yonkers’ Boyce Thompson Center opening pays homage to BTI’s history and roots

Yonkers’ Boyce Thompson Center opening pays homage to BTI’s history and roots

After the Boyce Thompson Institute relocated to Ithaca, NY in 1978, its original building and grounds in Yonkers, NY laid vacant for more than 40 years. A remnant of its original purpose, the building was left devoid of its most basic vestige: life. That all changed on May 23rd, 2017, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony and official opening of the new Boyce Thompson Center.

Newly-published spinach genome will make more than Popeye stronger

Newly-published spinach genome will make more than Popeye stronger

Today in Nature Communications, researchers from BTI and the Shanghai Normal University report a new draft genome of Spinacia oleracea, better known as spinach. Additionally, the authors have sequenced the transcriptomes (all the RNA) of 120 cultivated and wild spinach plants, which has allowed them to identify which genetic changes have occurred due to domestication.

Cilia receives Presidential Early Career Award

Cilia receives Presidential Early Career Award

Michelle Cilia has been selected to receive a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), which recognizes outstanding, government-funded scientists who show great potential for becoming leaders in their field and for expanding the frontiers of scientific knowledge.

New Ventures: Jacqueline Heard Joins BTI Boards

Drawing on her background in plant pathology and biotechnology, Heard advises agricultural startups, with the goal of launching companies that will bring new innovations to agriculture.

Remembering Ralph Hardy

Remembering Ralph Hardy

The former President and CEO of the Boyce Thompson Institute and pioneer of nitrogen fixation research passed away August 2 at the age of 82.

BTI Hosts 15th Annual Student Research Symposium

Intern Anniversary Series: Stephen Bolus

Bolus was a 2011 intern in the Klessig Lab, which confirmed his research interests in molecular plant-microbe interactions. He is now pursuing a Ph.D. in plant pathology at UC Davis.

BTI Hosts 15th Annual Student Research Symposium

Intern Anniversary Series: Grace Yu

Yu was a two-time intern in the PGRP, which confirmed her love of botany. She is now a research assistant at the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University and has plans to attend graduate school.

How BTI Celebrates Earth Day

An important part of BTI’s mission is to advance scientific knowledge to protect the environment. Here are a few of the current projects at BTI that work to achieve that mission.

BTI Hosts 15th Annual Student Research Symposium

Intern Anniversary Series: Hussain Ather

Ather is working towards his undergraduate degree in both physics and philosophy, with plans to pursue higher degrees in philosophy and computational neuroscience.

BTI Hosts 15th Annual Student Research Symposium

Intern Anniversary Series: Andrew Gipson

Currently, Gipson is pursuing his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics at Cornell University with aspirations to introduce new generations of college students to research at a liberal arts college.