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: Sharlene Weatherwax
Title: Program Manager
Place of Work: Department of Energy (DOE)
Research Area: Plant Signal Transduction
Member since: 1997

1. Why has being a member of ASPB been important?
The most important thing about being an ASPB member is the sense of community. I joined as a postdoc when I switched scientific fields, and I didn’t know anyone in the community. Now that I’m no longer doing hands-on research, I maintain my connection with ASPB because I want to keep up with the science—the ideas and the people.

2. Was someone instrumental in getting you to join ASPB?
Elaine Tobin and Bernie Phinney told me that all the cool people were ASPB members. That’s all the incentive I needed.

3. What would you tell colleagues to encourage them to join?
I would tell them that the plant biology community is a very dynamic and collaborative group, and that ASPB contributes to this through fostering communication and dialogue within the group. There are lots of other professional societies, but their focus is much broader.

4. Have you enhanced your career using ASPB job postings or through networking at an ASPB function?
Although I didn’t get my current job through an ASPB job posting, my career definitely benefits through meeting people and hearing about their research at ASPB functions. In addition to attendance at the annual meetings, another example of the informal networking that I enjoy is the yearly Mid-Atlantic Section Crab Feast!

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?
No, but I often suggest that early-career scientists regularly peruse the online job bank for updated listings. If I were looking to hire someone, I would definitely make sure the position was listed on the ASPB online Job Bank.

6. Do you read print journals? If so, where do you usually read them?
Yes, I read print journals—it’s like a present coming in the mail! I usually bring them with me when I’m traveling (subway, airplane).

7. What do you think is the next “big thing” in plant biology?
I hope the next big thing in plant biology is the use of plants as renewable resources for bioenergy. Certainly, DOE has a mission priority to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and replace a significant fraction of transportation fuels with biofuels.

8. What person, living or deceased, do you most admire?
I most admire Marie Curie, for her dedication to science and society. I can’t imagine being a scientist today without the groundbreaking work of such a determined woman.

9. What are you reading these days?
Does e-mail count? I’m currently reading The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman and On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee. After that I need to catch up on the most recent Harry Potter book.

10. What are your hobbies?
I enjoy good food and wine, and I do enough remodeling of our old home that it’s practically a hobby! We also enjoy gardening—last year we had a field of okra growing in our front yard!

11. What is your most treasured possession?
Friends and family—and, of course, my dog.

12. What do you still have left to learn?
Lots of things! The field of plant biology, and biology in general, is moving so fast, it’s a challenge to retain and synthesize the new information and new opportunities! I’m sure there are also lots of new recipes out there I need to try.