Charles Reid Barnes Life Membership Award
This is the oldest award, established in 1925 at the first annual meeting of the Society through the generosity of Dr. Charles A. Shull. It honors Dr. Charles Reid Barnes, the first professor of plant physiology at the University of Chicago. It is an annual award for meritorious work in plant biology; it provides a life membership in the Society to an individual who is at least sixty years old. Membership is a requirement for the award, and, if appropriate, every fifth award should be made to an outstanding plant biologist from outside the United States. In 2023, ASPB recognized two individuals as recipients of the Charles Reid Barnes Life Membership Award, John Browse and Natasha Raikhel.
2023 Winner: John Browse
John Browse stands out as one of our finest scientists, educators, and inspirational community figures. He has achieved unparalleled advances in our understanding of plant lipids, from the biochemistry and genetics of recalcitrant membrane proteins to their functional impact at an organism level. His stellar teaching and mentoring combine his emphasis on interpretation in an organismal context with high standards, humor, and energetic vibrancy. John has extended these beyond mentees in his own group, department, and university to the organization of local, national, and international meetings. For decades he has given students and other attendees precious opportunities for interaction. He has also freely shared research materials, mutants, ideas, insights, service as an Associate/Monitoring editor for Plant Physiology, and evaluations on panels for competitive funding agencies. He was recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences. John has been continuously active on all fronts for over 50 years.
2023 Winner: Natasha Raikhel
Dr. Natasha Raikhel is a visionary and internationally recognized leader in plant biology who has made seminal contributions in all areas. Natasha has made essential discoveries in the fields of secretory trafficking, cell wall biosynthesis, nuclear import signaling, lectins, and chemical genetics These research efforts led to new directions in plant cell biology and also fostered the careers of many young faculty. She was recognized for these contributions by being elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB). Dr. Raikhel has also played a major role in shaping plant science research during her tenure as Editor-in-Chief of Plant Physiology (1999-2005) and has driven the field of plant biology in new directions as an Associate Editor of PNAS and as Interim Editor-in-Chief of PNAS in 2018. Dr. Raikhel has been continuously active serving on government and industry advisory boards and panels, and has been a dedicated mentor, supporting the next generation of students, postdocs and junior faculty.
Hailing Jin , Chair (2021-2024)
Peggy Lemaux, Past Winner (2022-2023)
Alan Jones (2020-2023)
Karen Koch (2023-2025)
Sylvia Lee, Staff Liaison