Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology

The Department of Plant & Microbial Biology at UC Berkeley ranks among top institutions worldwide for research and training in plant biology and microbiology.

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

Support the next generation of scholars, researchers, and innovators during #CalBigGive. Every gift made to PMB’s Graduate Student Support Fund before 9 pm today can help unlock $20,000 in matching funds committed by department faculty. Give now: https://t.co/LRxON25LUY

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

Recent research from PMB Professor @WilliamsSci and postdoc Dawei Dai (@amaizeingcorn) suggests that Arabidopsis thaliana—one of plant biology's most closely studied species—could serve as a model organism for studying aging at the molecular level. https://t.co/4KruDRQ95G

[Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources @NatureAtCal]

Congratulations to advisors Ryann Madden and Zarah Ersoff, undergraduate Sanya Sitlani, and Professor Daniel Portnoy, who were honored earlier this month with 2025 Excellence in Advising and Student Services awards. Learn more about the recognition: https://t.co/ZvkkrrHKEO

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

Congratulations to Professors Sheng Luan and Krishna Niyogi and Adjunct Professor Igor Grigoriev on their inclusion on Clarivate's list, which recognizes researchers whose studies rank in the top 1% by number of scholarly citations worldwide.

Read more: https://t.co/X93Lx17Pc0

[Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources @NatureAtCal]

Eight Rausser College faculty were recently named among the world’s most influential researchers, according to a new report from analytics firm @Clarivate. Learn more about the methodology and see who made the list: https://t.co/e4fFg7xrgO

[Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources @NatureAtCal]

Our Fall issue of Breakthroughs looks inland to California's rural and agricultural areas, highlighting the Rausser College researchers advancing science and solutions to support communities and ecosystems across the Golden State. Read the full issue at https://t.co/eEmOqCAsrN.

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

Fourth-year genetics and plant biology major Yaeko Long has explored the fungal world, cultivated a passion for photography, and performed with the Cal Band across California. Learn more about their UC Berkeley experience: https://t.co/fRie1tCdHw

[Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources @NatureAtCal]

MONDAY, Oct 6: Join us for the Albright Lecture with Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, renowned marine biologist, policy expert, and climate thought leader, as she discusses her new book What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures. Register:
https://t.co/JuAshtN2jR

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

PMB is excited to welcome professors @becky_bart and @Yan_C_Gong to the Department this year. Learn more about their background and research:

[Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources @NatureAtCal]

Rausser College is excited to welcome six new faculty members this year. Their research and expertise span a variety of topics, including environmental economics, metabolic biology, land management, and plant biology. Read more about each faculty member: https://t.co/kTdazHrtiM

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

Plant Biology PhD student Kylee Hillman and @UCB_Chemistry PhD student Teng-Jui (Owen) Lin were recognized with a national prize for their efforts to highlight misleading visualizations published in academic journals. https://t.co/r3TNB739BT

[QB3-Berkeley @QB3Berkeley]

Congratulations to Usha Lingappa for receiving a 2025 Branco Weiss Fellow!

The fellowship will support Usha's research on algal contributions to soil carbon cycling as she continues her work as a postdoc in the @Merchant_Lab. Congrats again 🎊

Read more: https://t.co/ISvvJW3EeV

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

Congratulations to Marco, a plant biology PhD candidate in the @Merchant_Lab, on receiving this fellowship!

[Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources @NatureAtCal]

Rausser College PhD candidates Yihong Zhu, Marco Dueñas, Sheherazade, and Simon Greenhill were awarded fellowships by the Philomathia Center to study issues related to the environment. Learn more about their research: https://t.co/wFBQotdsrS

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

Calling all PMB alumni and current students! Please share your updates for our 2025 newsletter via this form by August 15! https://t.co/TaqZt63kjq

[QB3-Berkeley @QB3Berkeley]

New @UCBerkeley research! The @MerchantLab and @sunnyjoy_dupuis reveal that algae remember light stress from the day and prep for it at night—like a cellular slumber party with global CO₂ implications.

Read more about the new study in @ThePlantCell: https://t.co/GzP1zLORfB

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

Professor and @EnergyBioscien1 Director John Coates said the expansion of biofuel production raises new questions about shifts in agricultural production. “Just because something can be converted to a biofuel doesn’t necessarily mean that it should be…”
https://t.co/h3LqPSt1p5

[Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources @NatureAtCal]

Researchers from @PMB_Berkeley and the Innovative Genomics Institute are leveraging CRISPR and other genomic tools to help safeguard the planet’s supply of cacao from disease. Read more about their efforts in our latest issue of Breakthroughs. https://t.co/jpYDNLPlRx

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

Assistant Professor Patrick Shih (@LabShih) was named the 2025 recipient of the @ASPB's Charles Albert Shull Award, which recognizes outstanding research in plant biology by an ASPB member under 45 years old. Congratulations, Patrick!
https://t.co/KhxHD5F1pL

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

The Plant & Microbial Biology Department came together last month to celebrate Brian Staskawicz, recipient of the 2025 Wolf Prize in Agriculture. See photos of the reception in our Facebook album! https://t.co/QekojjYppa

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

Plant and Microbial Biology and Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology professor Sabeeha Merchant (@Merchant_Lab) recently wrote about the history of her research in the Journal of Molecular Biology. https://t.co/F62t22bXqQ

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

And to students Jason Avalos, Amanda Dee, Cierra Ord, and Aspen Pastore, who received honorable mentions!

[Berkeley Plant & Microbial Biology @PMB_Berkeley]

Congrats to @agoldman252 on receiving an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship! 💫

[Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources @NatureAtCal]

Congratulations to graduate students Annelise Goldman, Yarrow Syskine, and Dakota Pekerti on receiving 2025 Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation.
https://t.co/URPnu8B5zv