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: Scott Sattler
Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate
Place of Work or School: Michigan State University
Research Area: Plant Biochemistry and Genetics
Member since: 2002

1. Why has being a member of ASPB been important?
ASPB provides me with a connection to the wider community of plant biologists.

2. Was someone instrumental in getting you to join ASPB?
My supervisor, Dean DellaPenna, suggested that I consider attending the Plant Biology meeting in 2002 and become a member of ASPB.

3. What would you tell colleagues to encourage them to join?
I would tell them that ASPB is an excellent society to join because it promotes the broad field of plant biology in many different ways. The Society publishes two top-notch journals, The Plant Cell and Plant Physiology, as well as a couple important books. It organizes annual international scientific meetings. It acts on behalf of plant scientists to lobby the government for plant biology funding. It promotes plant biology education. ASPB does a great job representing plant scientists and our interests.

4. Have you enhanced your career using ASPB job postings or through networking at an ASPB function?
No, not yet. I am currently looking for positions, and I have applied for positions I found out about from the ASPB Job Bank.

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 would certainly consider it in the future, as I set up my own lab.

6. Do you read print journals? If so, where do you usually read them?
No, I usually download the PDF files and print and read them at home.

7. What do you think is the next “big thing” in plant biology?
Biofuels and stress tolerance are two areas that I think will probably be increasingly important in the future with global climate change.

8. What person, living or deceased, do you most admire?
Barbara McClintock, because she was a pioneer in genetics and she overcame so many obstacles during her career and accomplished so much.

9. What are you reading these days?
I read Al Franken’s book The Truth a couple months ago. He’s very funny, and we share something in common—we both grew up in Minnesota.

10. What are your hobbies?
Fishing and cross-country skiing. I also enjoy watching sports, especially football.

11. What is your most treasured possession?
My wristwatch, because it was a gift I received from my wife when we started dating. It has a lot of sentimental value for me and it’s a nice watch.

12. What do you still have left to learn?
A lot. There is so much out there to learn in terms of science and even more outside of science. One thing I want to learn is how to sail.