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Alum Profile: The Scientist Farmer

November 6, 2025
Carine (Marshall) Hines empowers small farmers in Northern California to succeed.Read more about Alum Profile: The Scientist Farmer

In Memoriam: Andrew O. Jackson

October 31, 2025
Jackson, a renowned plant virologist whose research advanced scientific understanding of host-pathogen interactions and the biology of plant viruses, died on July 6, 2025. He was 84.Read more about In Memoriam: Andrew O. Jackson

Explaining the power of synthetic plant biology in 101 seconds

October 29, 2025

Watch Patrick Shih, a professor of Plant and Microbial Biology, describe how synthetic plant biology can transform plants into platforms for producing valuable compounds such as therapeutics, nutrients, and renewable fuels.Read more about Explaining the power of synthetic plant biology in 101 seconds

In Memoriam: Russell Jones

October 28, 2025
Jones, who helped reshape scientific understanding of hormonal and cellular signaling in plants, passed away on July 1. He was 84.Read more about In Memoriam: Russell Jones

Breaking down the wonder of viruses in 101 seconds

October 14, 2025

Professor Britt Glaunsinger explains how gaining a better scientific understanding of viruses and how they work could result in better health outcomes for patients.Read more about Breaking down the wonder of viruses in 101 seconds

Student Spotlight: Yaeko Long

October 9, 2025

The fourth-year genetics and plant biology major and food systems minor discusses their passion for fungi and photography, involvement with Cal Band, and time at UC Berkeley.Read more about Student Spotlight: Yaeko Long

Shining a light on misleading data

September 5, 2025
Plant Biology PhD student Kylee Hillman and Chemistry PhD student Teng-Jui (Owen) Lin were recognized with a national prize for their efforts to highlight misleading visualizations published in academic journals.Read more about Shining a light on misleading data

Two new faculty join PMB

August 27, 2025

This academic year, we welcome professors Rebecca Bart and Yan Gong to the Department. Welcome Rebbeca and Yan!Read more about Two new faculty join PMB

Three PMB retirees honored by Rausser College

July 5, 2025

Lewis Feldman, Mike Freeling and N. Louise Glass were honored for their dedication to students and their fields, as well as for their service to the University.Read more about Three PMB retirees honored by Rausser College

PMB postdoc Usha Lingappa awarded Branco Weiss Fellowship

June 30, 2025

The highly competitive international fellowship will support Lingappa, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of PMB professor Sabeeha Merchant, as she studies algal contributions to soil carbon cycling.Read more about PMB postdoc Usha Lingappa awarded Branco Weiss Fellowship

How tiny organisms manage stress to power the planet

June 6, 2025

PMB scientists in the lab of Professor Sabeeha Merchant are studying how the stress of the workday influences algae’s biological clock.Read more about How tiny organisms manage stress to power the planet

Patrick Shih honored by the American Society of Plant Biologists

May 14, 2025
Shih, an assistant professor in PMB, is the Society’s 2025 recipient of the Charles Albert Shull Award.Read more about Patrick Shih honored by the American Society of Plant Biologists

Focus on: PhD candidate Marco Dueñas

April 9, 2025

Dueñas, a PhD candidate in the lab of PMB professor Sabeeha Merchant, was recently profiled by QB3-Berkeley.Read more about Focus on: PhD candidate Marco Dueñas

Brian Staskawicz awarded Wolf Prize in Agriculture

March 11, 2025

Staskawicz, a longtime professor of Plant and Microbial Biology, was awarded the 2025 Wolf Prize in Agriculture in recognition of his groundbreaking discoveries of the immune system and disease resistance in plants.Read more about Brian Staskawicz awarded Wolf Prize in Agriculture

Alum Giles Oldroyd named Danforth Center president

February 19, 2025
An internationally recognized plant geneticist, Oldroyd, PhD ’98, was a graduate student in the lab of Professor Brian Staskawicz.Read more about Alum Giles Oldroyd named Danforth Center president

Alum makes Forbes’ 30 under 30 list for healthcare

February 13, 2025
Yue Clare Lou, who earned both a BS and PhD in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, was recognized for her work toward the creation of next-gen immune boosters.Read more about Alum makes Forbes’ 30 under 30 list for healthcare

Katherine Ennis named 2024 For Women in Science awardee

December 11, 2024
The PMB postdoctoral researcher is one of five women receiving the L'Oréal USA 2024 For Women in Science (FWIS) award for her contribution to STEM fields.Read more about Katherine Ennis named 2024 For Women in Science awardee

John Taylor recognized by British Mycological Society

November 14, 2024
The PMB professor was awarded the organization’s 2024 John Webster Award for his outstanding contribution to fungal biology research over an extended career.Read more about John Taylor recognized by British Mycological Society

New research identifies key gene in maize domestication

October 17, 2024
PMB researchers George Chuck and Zhaobin Dong have identified a gene that controls numerous essential crop traits in maize.Read more about New research identifies key gene in maize domestication

Shaping our understanding of microbial communities

August 7, 2024
Recent research led by Luis Valentin-Alvarado, PhD ’23 Microbial Biology, identifies a novel group of Asgard archaea and offers new insight into their distribution and function.Read more about Shaping our understanding of microbial communities

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