Mary Williams

I studied Biochemistry at Berkeley (BA), Plant Molecular Biology at Rockefeller (PhD), did a postdoc at Berkeley with Ian Sussex, and then spent 14 years as a Biology professor at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. In 2009 I started working at the American Society of Plant Biologists as Features Editor of the journal Plant Cell and the developer of Teaching Tools in Plant Biology. My passion lies in making it a little bit easier for students of all ages to understand plants and plant science research. I live in Glasgow, Scotland, with my family and our much adored dog.

Surviving Academia and Industry: 2021 Plant Biology Workshop

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By Asia Hightower (EDIC) and Anjali Iyer-Pascuzzi (EDIC) During the Plant Biology 2021 meeting, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDIC) hosted a virtual workshop called ‘Surviving Academia and Industry’. Navigating the scientific workforce can be challenging for anyone at all career stages, but is particularly stressful for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) … Read more

Browse high impact research from The Plant Cell and Plant Physiology

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Since the beginning of 2021, ASPB has partnered with Oxford University Press in the publication of The Plant Cell and Plant Physiology (see ASPB welcomes Oxford University Press). Through this partnership we’ve been exploring new ways to share and highlight the exciting research published in these journals. We’d like to introduce you to a new … Read more

ASPB and partners awarded $2 million NSF grant to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the plant sciences

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By Mary Williams and Crispin Taylor, with graphics designed by Siobhan Braybrook We are excited to announce that ASPB, along with our partners, has been awarded a five-year grant through the NSF’s LEAPS [LEAding cultural change through Professional Societies (LEAPS) of Biology] program. As the lead organization, ASPB has the privilege of coordinating the development … Read more

Cultivating the next generation of scientists and the scientific literature through micropublications

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Guest post by Amy T. Hark, Muhlenberg College Scientific training is largely built on mentoring relationships, often beginning at the undergraduate level.  Students have found increasing opportunities to engage in research and the benefits including promoting engagement and retention are well documented.  But what parts of the research process do undergraduates typically have access to?  … Read more

National Academy of Sciences 2020 member highlight – Barbara Valent

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By Yun-Ting Kao (Plantae Fellow) This year, nine plant scientists have been elected to the National Academy of  Science. We asked the newly elected plant scientists about how the news of their election to the NAS reached them, what inspires their research, and for their advice for early career researchers. Barbara Valent is a University … Read more