The College of New Jersey | April 25–26, 2026
Written by: NE Section ASPB Ambassadors
Edited by: Shoshana Kronfield, Sarah Black, Jayson Padilla
This spring, the Northeast Section of the American Society of Plant Biologists gathered at The College of New Jersey for a meeting that felt as much about community as it was about science. From the moment attendees arrived, it was clear that this was more than a traditional conference; it was a space for connection, mentorship, and shared enthusiasm for plant biology.
Organized by Leeann Thornton, former ASPB President and Professor at TCNJ, alongside the Northeast Section Executive Board and Shoshana Kronfield, the meeting welcomed over 90 participants from across the region. Undergraduate students, graduate trainees, postdocs, and faculty came together in an environment that encouraged conversation, curiosity, and collaboration across career stages.
Over two days, the program featured 49 abstracts, including 36 poster presentations, as well as oral talks and networking opportunities. Hallways and poster sessions were filled with lively discussions, new ideas, and the kind of spontaneous connections that continue well beyond the meeting itself.
Outside, the skies poured with rain, while inside the conference room, speakers captivated the audience with their fascinating research findings. This past weekend at the ASPB Northeast Section reminded us why regional meetings are so vital. While the large international conference offers a broad overview of the field, it is these regional meetings that truly nourish the roots of our scientific community.
Cultivating Community in Plant Science Across Career Stages
The NE sectional was particularly successful in bridging the gap between career stages, creating a space where undergraduates and senior researchers could engage on level ground. Undergrad students specifically highlighted the approachability towards postdocs for future guidance. Senior postdocs were met with opportunities to walk around the Biology building and were encouraged to look into relevant positions on campus for their future endeavours. Both instances highlight the spirit of mentoring, a core vision of ASPB. The meeting focused entirely on the growth of the regional plant science community. By dedicating nearly all fifteen speaking slots to students and postdocs, the meeting provided a supportive stage for emerging researchers to share their work. That energy naturally carried over into the breaks, where casual conversations quickly turned into potential cross-institutional projects. Whether it was troubleshooting a protocol or coordinating an exchange, the weekend facilitated organic networking beyond virtual meetings.
Keynote Talks that Inspired
Two keynote speakers set the tone for the scientific program with talks that were both insightful and engaging:
Hong Ma (The Pennsylvania State University), former ASPB President, presented
“Novel Factors and Mechanisms Controlling RNA Splicing and Genome-wide Conservation of Exon-Intron Structure Across Angiosperms.”
His work introduced new perspectives on RNA splicing and highlighted conserved genomic features across plant species.
Guillermo Jimenez-Aleman (New Jersey Institute of Technology) presented
“Weaponizing Nutrition: Essential Fatty Acids and a Dual Defense Mechanism in Plants.”
His talk showcased how plants balance growth and defense through nutrient-based strategies, offering a fresh perspective on plant-insect interactions.
Researchers at the Center
This year, the presenters tackled diverse and pressing questions in plant biology, demonstrating an impressive command of complex biological systems. Their work spanned the entire scale of the field, from the molecular mechanics of membrane transport and the intricacies of epigenetic regulation to the broader ecological implications of plant-microbe interactions. These sessions highlighted the drive to understand how plants navigate and respond to an increasingly unpredictable environment.
Selected Highlights
While every presentation contributed to the success of the meeting, several talks stood out for their innovative approaches and clarity. One of the most energizing aspects of the ASPB Northeast meeting is its strong emphasis on student participation. Poster sessions and talks showcased not only technical skill but also creativity, curiosity, and thoughtful mentorship.
Selected Talks
- Josephine Maguire (Graduate student, Cornell University / USDA-ARS) investigated ion transport at the single-molecule level.
- Moonia Ammari (Graduate student, Rutgers University) examined how stress signals reshape chromatin landscapes.
- Frank Schaeffer (Millersville University) explored how plant sex influences microbiome assembly.
- Ben Winograd (Undergraduate student, Haverford College) explained the genetic basis for sugar variation in floral nectar underlying an early intraspecific pollinator shift
- Ian McCahill (Postdoc, MIT) investigated the drivers of altered leaf investment under rising CO2, a pressing environmental issue.
- Saroj Kumar Sah (Postdoc, Brookhaven National Laboratory) explained the bacterial otsA expression that modulates carbon partitioning to enhance oil accumulation in camelina seeds
Selected Posters
- Amna Ishaq (Undergraduate student, Lehman College) discussed the Cadmium uptake and translocation in a high zinc cultivar of wheat
- Rebecca Getman, Xander Vancott & Noah Vance (Undergraduate students, SUNY Cobleskill) presented individual posters on their progress in improving stress tolerance through overexpression of Choline Oxidase (codA) in Switchgrass and Tobacco
- Jacob Wu and Rudra Pachori (Hopkinton High School, MA) presented a study on early, noninvasive detection of plant stress using electrophysiological signals. Their hybrid LR-CNN model achieved high accuracy (ROC-AUC = 0.9872) and detected stress ~4.6 days before visible symptoms, highlighting the potential of electrophysiological biomarkers for improving agricultural resilience
- Aaron Saran (undergraduate, Hofstra University) presented research on the epigenetic silencing of the Ac transposon in Zea mays. His findings suggest that the Ack2 allele promotes silencing primarily through small RNA–directed DNA methylation, without strong evidence for associated histone modifications, highlighting a novel regulatory mechanism for Ac/Ds transposons.
- Debbie Akangbe, (Undergraduate student The College of New Jersey), The Role of Maize CYP72A353 in Plant Acclimation to Environmental Stresses.
Beyond the technical sessions, the energy was sustained by the active presence of the ASPB Ambassadors. Their role went far beyond formal presentations, highlighting the many professional development resources of ASPB. One of the most engaging features was the ASPB Quiz Game, where Ambassadors motivated researchers to test their plant science trivia in a spirited, low-stakes competition. While it served as a perfect icebreaker, the game had a deeper purpose. It highlighted practical ways to get involved with ASPB and its professional community, ensuring that the meeting felt like the start of a long-term journey rather than just a weekend event.
Celebrating Excellence through Awards and Recognition
One of the most rewarding moments of the weekend was the Awards Ceremony. It was a privilege to see the hard work of our peers recognized. The winners were recognised and their science was celebrated in each of the Graduate/Postdoc and Undergraduate categories. The caliber of the data presented and the clarity of the posters were a testament to the rigorous research being conducted right here in the Northeastern region.
Talk Awards
Janeen Braynen (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) Integrating Transcriptomics and Ionomics to Dissect Iron Use Efficiency and Heat Stress Responses in Sorghum
Lydia Tressel (USDA-ARS) Pre-domestication Dynamics of a Key Regulator Gene for Seed Dormancy in Barley
Josephine Maguire (graduate student at Cornell University) Comparing ALMT6 and ALMT9 Transport Properties at the Single Molecule Level
Frank Schaeffer (Undergraduate Millersville University) explored how plant sex influences microbiome assembly.
Poster Awards
Fenny Kayastha (Undergraduate at New Jersey Institute of technology) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Are Essential for Proper Caterpillar Growth and Development
Amna Ishaq (Undergraduate at Lehman College) Cadmium uptake and translocation in a high zinc cultivar of wheat
Patricia Leyva (Graduate at Cornell University) III-system approach: Utilizing oocytes, yeast, and plants to identify domains enabling citrate transport by plant MATE proteins
Aimee Torres (Graduate at Cornell University ) Characterizing the cannabinoid biosynthesis pathway in the liverwort Radula obconica
These presentations emphasized the importance of investing in the next generation of plant scientists and providing spaces where they feel encouraged to work towards the one true cause of advancing plant science to meet the global challenges of our time.
Why it Matters
Meetings like the ASPB Northeast Section gathering remind us that science is not just about showcasing data; it is about the people who make research possible. Behind lab benches, it is often difficult to understand the perspective of work. ASPB NE section meeting offers a platform for discussions between researchers from early to late career stages. The idea of coming together at this meeting allows for mentorship, collaboration, and the shared excitement of discovery. Scientists currently working in the Northeast section bring with them a perspective previously unexplored, making these meetings memorable. This meeting highlights the role of ASPB in Plant Science and the plethora of opportunities it can provide for young researchers to develop their skills. Whether through research talks, outreach events, or informal conversations, this meeting created opportunities to build lasting connections within the plant science community.
Looking Ahead
As we return to our labs and classrooms, the energy from this weekend stays with us. We aren’t just leaving with new data, we’re leaving with a renewed sense of purpose and a stronger network of friends and collaborators. A big shoutout to the organizers and everyone who participated in the meeting to make this successful. With the hope of meeting you all at the next meeting, with more topics for discussion and updates. Let’s keep this momentum going!
Stay Connected
Interested in getting involved with ASPB or the Northeast Section?
- Learn more and become a member: https://aspb.org/membership
- Explore the Northeast Section: https://northeast.aspb.org/
- Visit the ASPB homepage: https://aspb.org