ASPB members share a common goal of promoting the growth, development, and outreach of plant biology as a pure and applied science. This column features some of the dedicated and innovative members of ASPB who believe that membership in our Society is crucial to the future of plant biology. If you are interested in contributing to this feature, please contact ASPB Membership at info@aspb.org.

Membership Corner

Name: Sizolwenkosi Mlotshwa
Title: Postdoctoral Fellow
Place of Work or School: University of South Carolina
Research Area: Plant Molecular Genetics and Small RNA Pathways
Member since: 2003

1. Why has being a member of ASPB been important?
Apart from being home to leading journals in plant research, ASPB hosts a highly interactive community of diverse plant researchers and offers endless opportunities for scientific networking and development. I think the ASPB website is the most comprehensive source of career development tools and opportunities for established and emerging plant researchers and educators. The Job Bank is a very helpful community resource, and the Education Forum is very enlightening. I appreciate ASPB support for K–12 education and for undergraduate fellowships and travel awards. This is a priceless investment of membership contributions to secure the future of plant research.

2. Was someone instrumental in getting you to join ASPB?
Not anyone in particular, at least not to my recollection. As an emerging researcher in plant sciences, I believe my career benefited immensely from daily visits to the ASPB website to keep abreast of cutting-edge developments and trends in plant research. In the process I discovered tremendous benefits of ASPB membership.

3. What would you tell colleagues to encourage them to join?
ASPB’s programs are worthy of support for their focus on the career development of young people. In addition, ASPB offers excellent membership benefits that include, but are not limited to, discounts on chemicals, reagents, posters, and literature; a personal member website; annual meeting opportunities; undergrad and grad student awards to attend national meetings; discounts on registration fees for ASPB meetings; a free résumé posting to the Job Bank; and opportunities to network with fellow researchers. Once a member, you will find even more worthy reasons to always remain one.

4. Have you enhanced your career using ASPB job postings or through networking at an ASPB function?
I was once recruited for a position that I first saw in the ASPB job postings.

5. Have you had any success at finding candidates as a result of a job posting at the meeting or on our online Job Bank?
I have yet to use this service for recruitment. But I find the ASPB online Job Bank to be the most resourceful and timely job service for the scientific community, so it will be my first recruitment stop as soon as I get the opportunity to start my own research group. I highly recommend it to any job recruiters engaged in plant research.

6. Do you read print journals? If so, where do you usually read them?
I do read print journals, from the library. Still remains a refreshing experience.

7. What do you think is the next “big thing” in plant biology?
Molecular pharming. I cannot wait to see plants being used on a large scale as biofactories for vaccines and other medicinal products that would be more affordable to low-income families.

8. What person, living or deceased, do you most admire?
Bill Gates, for filling the leadership vacuum in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Isn’t this the greatest crisis facing humanity in our lifetime?

9. What are you reading these days?
Besides The Chronicle of Higher Education and the latest literature on microRNA biology? The Alchemist by the Brazilian-born author Paulo Coelho (for the third time, I think). If you long for a brief vacation away from yourself, get hold of this book. I am also reading Environmental Costs and Benefits of Transgenic Plants by J.H.H. Wesseler (Ed.).

10. What are your hobbies?
Playing musical instruments. I sometimes daydream that one day I will be my favorite jazz guitarist, ahead of Jonathan Butler and Lee Ritenour. I would also like to see myself doing more volunteer work in science outreach programs.

11. What is your most treasured possession?
Good health.

12. What do you still have left to learn?
A whole lot indeed—obviously, so much remains out of sight. I don’t think it would hurt to uncover more reasons for this brief transit through planet Earth. Is there any extraterrestrial life out there? I wish this question could be answered in my lifetime. In the meantime, I might try to learn a new language. What about Dutch…om het even welke gewillige Nederlandse privé-leraren uit daar? Or my own Ndebele/Zulu mother language: Ukhona ofisa ukungifundisa isi Dutch?