Institute Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Boyce Thompson Institute

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.

Van Eck Gives Insight into Genetic Engineering to Cornell Students

Students in Cornell University’s course, The GMO Debate: Science and Society, visited a genetic engineering laboratory at Boyce Thompson Institute, courtesy of Assistant Professor Joyce Van Eck and postdoctoral researcher Alex Amaro, Stern Lab.

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.

Cairo Archer Wants to Level the Growing Field

“There is such a disconnect between what the average person knows about plant science and what we do in the lab here…I think it’s really important to be able to talk to anyone about what I do in a way that they understand.”

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.

5 Questions with Pamela Ronald

Pamela Ronald, a rice geneticist at the University of California, Davis, and a member of the Boyce Thompson Institute Scientific Advisory Board, “I support genetic tools and farming practices that enhance sustainable agriculture.”

Jonathan Gomes Selman Explores the Power of Computer Science

Gomes Selman set out to create a computer program to improve the efficiency of a genome editing technique called CRISPR/Cas9.. “I’ve grown to really enjoy coding and algorithm design.”

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

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.

From Haybales to Biotech and Back

Summer intern Tawni Middleton grew up on a hay farm in Colorado and plans to make her way back to the fields, by way of a career in plant biotechnology.

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.

The Perks of Being a Mentor

Summer internships at BTI let students try on the life of a scientist for a few months, while attending a variety of talks, trainings and social events. But what’s in it for the mentors, who painstakingly train them?

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.

Felix Fernandez-Penny Stays True to His Roots

Some interns, like Cornell University first-year student Felix Fernandez-Penny, enjoy their time at BTI so much that they keep showing up at the laboratory, long after the summer ends.

BTI Welcomes New Crop of Summer Interns

BTI welcomes 20 college-level interns for 10 weeks of research in Plant Genome Research Program, the Bioinformatics Program or the Bioenergy Education Program.

BTI Hosts Flash Science! Speaking Competition

BTI Professor Emeritus Robert Kohut initiates competition at BTI to give early-career scientists an opportunity to communicate with the general public and practice their “elevator speech.”

Planting a Passion for Research

Marshall Tyler nominated Maria Harrison for the 2015 Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award.

18.5 Million Grant Will Help Bring Genomic Technology to Small Farmers

BTI Professor Lukas Mueller will participate in an international collaboration to expedite crop breeding for five worldwide staple crops—wheat, rice, maize, sorghum and chickpea.

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.

President Stern Promotes Funding for Plant Research in DC

BTI President David Stern traveled to Washington D.C. last week to advocate for increased federal support for plant research for the 2016 fiscal year; Unleashing a Decade of Innovation in Plant Science.

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.

Former BTI Faculty Member, Karl Maramorosch, Turns 100

Karl Maramorosch, a former BTI scientist, pioneer in insect cell culture and winner of the Wolf Prize in Agriculture, became a centenarian this past month.

BTI Grant Managers Help Researchers Excel

The grant managers are integral to the success of BTI’s mission to advance knowledge in plant biology to improve agriculture, protect the environment, and enhance human health.

Cilia Lab at International Citrus Greening Conference

Assistant Professor Michelle Cilia and four members of her lab attended the International Conference for Huanglongbing. They joined hundreds of other researchers in Orlando, Fla. Feb. 9-13, to present their research on this disease.

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.”

New equipment opens up ‘mass’ive possibilities

The Boyce Thompson Institute starts off 2015 with a generous gift from the Triad Foundation and researchers are about to open their most exciting present: a high-resolution mass spectrometer. The instrument, which can determine the chemical formula – and possibly even...