DAVID HARDEN

UA scientist Vicki Chandler was recently elected president of the National Society of Plant Biologists. Chandler, who is currently researching gene regulation in plants, will serve a one-year term at her new post.

Thursday October 25, 2001

Scientist to serve 1-year term at the helm of plant biologist group

A UA biologist was elected president of the American Society of Plant Biologists earlier this month.

Vicki Chandler, a professor in the departments of plant sciences and molecular and cellular biology, was elected to a one-year term Oct. 1.

Chandler, who worked as a professor at the University of Oregon for 12 years before coming to the University of Arizona four years ago, studies gene regulation in plants. She is currently focusing her research on corn.

"It is a wonderful honor for her, and she is well deserving of it," said Jane Dorweiler, a post-doctorate student of Chandler's.

Dorweiler has known Chandler for six years, and they have been working on their gene regulation experiment for five years. The purpose for their experiment is to look at how the different parts of the nucleus of a plant communicate with each other.

"I am very pleased with this honor," Chandler said.

Chandler received her bachelor's degree from the University of California Berkeley in 1978. She received a doctorate in biochemistry from Stanford University in 1983.

In 1985, Chandler received the Presidential Young Investigator Award and then won the SERLE Scholar Award in 1988. The National Science Foundation recognized her in 1991 with the Women's Scientist Award.

The ASPB is a non-profit society with 6,000 members across the United States and 48 other countries.

The society includes members from government agencies, colleges and schools and scientists such as biochemists, physiologists and plant scientists.

The ASPB members have been conducting research on plant growth, finding new ways to grow healthier, stronger plants for food, fuel, medicine and helping the environment. The society publishes two science journals: Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell.

One of Chandler's colleagues, Brian Larkins, a professor of molecular and cellular biology, was ASPB president from 1998 to 1999.