Pioneer Member

Mahdi Abu-Omar – It is with great pleasure and deep respect that I support of Maureen McCann as ASPB Pioneer. I had the distinct honor of working with Maureen through C3Bio at Purdue University, where we collaborated on biomass conversion to biofuels. Maureen consistently demonstrated exceptional scientific expertise, visionary leadership, and an unwavering commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. Maureen’s profound understanding of plant biology, particularly the molecular-level structure and interactions within the plant cell wall, was instrumental in advancing our research. She had a rare ability to bridge disciplines, recognizing the crucial role that fields like chemistry and chemical engineering play in the conversion of plant biomass. One of Maureen’s most remarkable qualities was her dedication to building and championing collaborations. She worked tirelessly at the intersection of biology, spectroscopy, and chemistry, bringing together experts from various fields to address critical challenges in plant science and biofuel production. Through her leadership, she not only advanced scientific knowledge but also created a legacy of cooperation and cross-disciplinary exploration that will continue to inspire researchers for years to come.

Mauricio Antunes – I worked as a postdoc with Maureen when she was the Director of the Center for Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels (C3Bio) at Purdue University. Her leadership style, interaction with other scientists, and scientific vision have inspired me in my academic career. These attributes led me to suggest her name to be invited to the Advisory Board of the BioDiscovery Institute at the University of North Texas. Fortunately for us, she accepted the invitation and has actively contributed to the institute’s growth with her experience and vision. Maureen is very deserving of this recognition!

Matheus R. Benatti – I had the incredible privilege of being mentored by Dr. Maureen McCann during my postdoctoral research at Purdue University from 2010 to 2019, and I can honestly say she has had a profound impact on both my career and personal growth. She’s not just an outstanding scientist – she’s an exceptional leader who knows how to bring out the best in people.

Dr. McCann has this amazing ability to guide, inspire, and support everyone around her. She creates an environment where people feel valued and encouraged to grow, always providing thoughtful advice and opportunities that push her mentees forward. Thanks to her, I gained the skills and confidence to navigate the complexities of the biotechnology industry and take on new challenges.

But what truly sets her apart is her kindness, compassion, and genuine care for others. She’s more than just a mentor – she’s a lifelong supporter and a constant source of wisdom and positivity. Her influence goes far beyond the lab; she leads with empathy, integrity, and a deep belief in the potential of those she mentors.

Dr. McCann isn’t just an incredible scientist – she’s an inspiring leader, an unwavering mentor, and a truly wonderful person. I’m beyond grateful for her guidance and for the lasting impact she’s had on my life and career.

Bryon Donohoe – As a trailblazer and leader in the field of understanding the architecture and function of plant cell walls, Maureen’s groundbreaking electron microscopy images and models continue to serve as the cornerstone. Personally, I have known Maureen for many years as a wonderful leader, mentor, and inspiration. Her approach and advice has had an enormous positive impact on my career, and I am very appreciative of it.

Candace Haigler – Maureen is an exemplary ASPB pioneer, having exerted strong leadership in ASPB and for the scientific community. Her contributions to cell wall biology and its applied applications have been impactful in both realms and are part of the history and the future of renewable, plant-based, bioenergy. Well-done, Maureen, and thank you. Candace Haigler

Matthew Hill – Maureen has had a foundational influence on my career, not only due to her scientific drive and focus but also her warmth and enthusiasm. I both took one of her classes and worked in her lab as an undergraduate student, and only as I have proceeded into graduate school have I truly come to appreciate how fortunate I was to have such an excellent mentor and spend my undergraduate years in such a wonderful academic environment. Maureen’s advice, encouragement, and direct, clear commentary and suggestions were not only amazingly helpful during my four years in her lab, but have since served as an excellent role model in my scientific career beyond. Thank you so much Maureen for everything you have done for me and the field of plant biology over the years.

Mike Himmel – Maureen, It seems like almost yesterday that we met at Purdue University to discuss NREL’s participation in the new BES proposal that was destined to become C3BIO. C3BIO was a fantastic experience for everyone involved and I still remember your calm, patient style, underpinned by deep scientific preparation as a hallmark of the center.  Congratulations on your well-deserved recognition as a Pioneer in ASPB for your work in cell-wall biology and maize genetics.  Mike Himmel, NREL Senior Research Fellow

Thomas Hodges – Congratulations to Maureen for being recognized as a Pioneer Member of ASPB. She has made enormous contributions to our understanding of the structure, biochemistry, and genetics of cell walls. Maureen adapted Fourier transform infrared microscopy as a rapid method to identify mutations in Arabidopsis, establishing a database contributing spectroscopic data on over 900 homozygous mutant lines of Arabidopsis for the plant research community. She also developed a systems biology approach to classify cell wall-related gene families in Arabidopsis, rice, maize, sorghum, and switchgrass, including a comprehensive expression analysis of cell wall genes involved in primary and secondary wall formation in maize.

Maureen served as director of the Center for direct Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels (C3Bio), one of 46 Energy Frontiers Research Centers formed by the U.S. Department of Energy, an interdisciplinary teamwork of plant biologists, chemists, technologists and engineers, that has trained over 100 early career scientists.

Maureen is currently the Director of the Biosciences Center of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Her team of 80 scientists and engineers continue research to develop new knowledge in algal and plant biomass deconstruction for conversion to biofuels and bioproducts.

Maureen has also been very active in ASPB, serving on numerous committees and being elected President-elect, President, and Past President from 2019 through 2022. She is a true Pioneer of ASPB.

Karen Koch and Don McCarty – There’s no one like Maureen! Of course, her science is stellar, but so is the person who comes with it. Many of us consider Maureen the Queen of Cell Wall Architecture. Her work defined pivotal features of structure-function control of primary cell walls in plants. From cross-linked microfibrillar networks to molecular mechanisms, Maureen’s findings showed how cell expansion and shape could modulate whole plant and organ form — with enormous applied and fundamental impacts. In addition to these contributions, Maureen infuses all she does with a special brand of spirit, grace, and humor. She inspires everyone around her! Over many years of collaboration and friendship, she’s helped us all to do better, be better, and enjoy ourselves a bit more. She combines high standards of quality with an ebullient delight at positive outcomes. Her gracious yet infectious enthusiasm has led to some of the best collective endeavors! Initially small collaborations grew to much larger efforts, then to her elected national office and program directorship roles. Maureen’s inimical and inspiring style remains at the core of these successes and the long-term friendships that formed along the way.

Rick Meilan – I worked closely with Maureen between 2009 and 2018, while she was director of the Center for Direct Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels (C3Bio). C3Bio was one of the Energy Frontiers Research Centers formed by the U.S. Department of Energy. It was an interdisciplinary team of plant biologists, chemists, technologists, and engineers. The structure and mission of C3Bio were largely, if not exclusively, the brainchild of Maureen. One of the primary goals of C3Bio was to engineer a woody perennial that would produce cell walls that could be disassembled without using overly harsh treatments, so that its constituent parts could be extracted intact and used in various downstream processes. As Maureen went about assembling a team of first-rate scientists, they all leapt at the opportunity to work with her.

Maureen is widely known for her work on plant cell walls in many model herbaceous plant species, but she also made major contributions to our understanding of the cell-wall architecture in poplar (species within the genus Populus). Very early on, she recognized the utility in Arabidopsis and Populus having genomes with a very high degree of similarity. So much so that promoters derived from one species could be used equally well in the other. As a result, we could initially test our genetic constructs in Arabidopsis, which could be transformed and regenerated easily, before going to the trouble of producing primary transformants in poplar, which could take 8-10 months.

The group with which I was affiliated altered the expression (either up- and/or down-regulated) of nearly every gene in the phenylpropanoid pathway, the end products of which are the monomers plants use to assemble the lignin polymer. This caused the engineered plants to produce novel lignins. We then had to determine whether the modified plants were compromised in any way. To do this, we propagated numerous ramets of each line (i.e., independent transformation event), so we could conduct replicated, multi-year field trials. We coppiced the field-grown trees periodically to keep them in a juvenile (non-flowering) state (a condition of our USDA-APHIS-BRS permit) but also to provide experimental materials to other scientists within and outside of C3Bio. In the end, we shared our transgenic plant material with dozens of scientists all over the world, who specifically requested it.

Working with Maureen was an utter delight. She is kind, generous, thoughtful, fair, hard-working, and had a tremendous sense of humor. However, she was also uncompromising when it came to her standards for conducting the highest quality research possible and for meeting targets and deadlines. One of the things that impressed me most about Maureen was her intimate understanding of the research being conducted by every member of the Center. As a result, she would make insightful observations and detailed recommendations to all of us at our regularly scheduled group meetings. As a direct result of these and other interactions, I became a better scientist. For that, and much more, I will be forever in her debt.

Nate Mosier – Dr. McCann had a profound influence on my professional development long before I even met her. As a new graduate student in chemical/biological engineering working on enzymatic and catalytic deconstruction of plant cell walls, I found her drawing/model of the layering and interactions of plant cell wall polymers a clear and concise summary of the state of knowledge about the structure of plant cell walls. This figure informed my thinking about my research problem and inspired new ways to approach solutions. The power of a great visual or figure was a lesson that I took to heart in my own work, and I try to instill this lesson in my students to this day.

Many years later, I had the great pleasure of working closely with Maureen at C3Bio – a multi-institution, multi-discipline center funded by the US Department of Energy. Her leadership of that team further illustrated the power of clear and effective communication. Helping a team of biologists, chemists, and chemical engineers to all speak the same language, or at least communicate effectively with one another, was no small feat. Through her leadership, she made bridging the disciplinary language gaps, methodology differences, and other barriers a priority. These efforts resulted in an effective team of researchers, including graduate students and post-doctoral researchers, who truly collaborated in the lab, the field, and in communicating the results of our efforts. I am truly humbled to count her as a mentor in my own development of good science leadership skills. Her insights and suggestions to the research problems we were addressing were often innovative and helpful in the team achieving our goals.

This recognition is truly deserved by Maureen McCann. She is a pioneer of in plant biology whose work and leadership has moved the frontier of the science forward substantially and mentored many great scientists to continue pushing the boundaries into the future.

Anna Olek – I had the privilege of working with Dr. Maureen McCann at Purdue University for many years. There is no need to convince anyone of her remarkable achievements as a scientist. Her extensive research is well-documented in numerous publications. However, to me, Maureen is much more than an accomplished researcher; she is an extraordinary teacher, mentor, and friend.

Whether in the classroom or a one-on-one setting, Maureen listens attentively, takes the time to explain complex concepts, and challenges others to think critically and contribute to finding solutions. As my mentor, she played a pivotal role in shaping my development as a scientist. Having a strong female role model is invaluable, and Maureen embodies that role with grace and generosity. Above all, she is my friend, always ready to ask thoughtful questions, offer help, and share a warm smile.

Fabio Ribeiro – Dr. Maureen McCann served as Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Engineering Frontier Research Center for Direct Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels (C3Bio), a role in which she brought together a remarkable team of scientists and engineers dedicated to transforming biomass into renewable fuels and chemicals. My late colleague, Professor Nicholas “Nick” Delgass, and I had the privilege of collaborating in this ambitious effort.

C3Bio took on one of the most multifaceted challenges in energy research: how to tailor biomass, deconstruct it efficiently, and develop cost-effective catalytic pathways to produce biofuels and valuable chemicals. Under Maureen’s leadership, we rallied around a unified goal, identified the critical technological gaps, and worked collaboratively on the science and engineering to solve them. Managing such a diverse group, spanning multiple institutions and disciplines, required more than expertise; it demanded vision, integrity, and humility. Maureen provided all three in abundance.

Her honesty and boundless enthusiasm were especially pivotal. She fostered an environment where every team member, from graduate students to seasoned researchers, felt valued. By encouraging open discussion and creative problem-solving, she cultivated an atmosphere that inspired us all to push boundaries and innovate. Watching her lead with such empathy and determination continues to influence my own approach to research and collaboration.

Nick and I have often reflected on how Maureen’s guidance helped pave the way for future endeavors in low-carbon energy solutions. Her ability to bring people together for a common purpose and her unwavering commitment to scientific excellence have motivated me to pursue similarly ambitious initiatives. For this, and for her enduring friendship, we remain deeply grateful.

Thank you, Maureen, for being a driving force in our work at C3Bio and for showing us how visionary leadership can shape not only a project’s outcomes but also the careers and aspirations of all who take part.

Signed with gratitude,

Professor Nicholas “Nick” Delgass (in memoriam) and Fabio Ribeiro

Keith Roberts – This is an award on merit. Maureen McCann remains a smart researcher and a fine colleague. She started her 16-year career at the John Innes Centre in 1987 as a clever Cambridge student in my lab, graduating with her PhD in 1990. For this she worked on the molecular architecture of onion cell walls, using a combination of novel electron microscopies, immunocytochemistry and FTIR spectroscopy, a study from which several important papers emerged. She remained as a post-doc in my lab (with funding from a BBSRC/Unilever LINK grant) and then, in 1995, she was awarded her own Royal Society Fellowship, when we then ran our two labs collaboratively. A highlight for me was our successful joint organisation of the hugely enjoyable 8^th International Plant Cell Wall Meeting in Norwich in 1998! In total we published over 30 joint papers, and I am proud and delighted that she has maintained her critical interest in functional cell wall architecture and embraced the opportunities to explore its commercial relevance. Congratulations!

Evan Sowinski – I have Dr. McCann to thank for my career today as a researcher at Purdue. When I was still just in high school, one of my teachers met Dr. McCann at a renewable energy event hosted by the university, and spoke with her about my interest in renewable energy research. When I got to campus as a freshman, I was invited to a sit-down meeting with Dr. McCann, who offered me a position in her lab during that same meeting. She gave me a chance to develop my knowledge and skills very early in my academic career, and I worked in her lab for the entirety of my undergraduate studies at Purdue. Then after graduating, Dr. McCann and Dr. Carpita referred me to their colleague in Chemical Engineering, Dr. Ribeiro, informing him of my interest and recommending me for transfer to his lab. I have now been with Purdue doing research for over 10 years, and it is all because Dr. McCann gave a young, hopeful upstart a chance. In working with Dr. McCann, I learned how to be a scientist, how to develop my critical thinking skills, and how to communicate and present information in a clear and accessible manner. Her investment in me, both personally and professionally, allowed me to develop my career into what I have today. Thank you.

Gerald Tuskan – I have known Maureen McCann for several years and have always found her to be highly engaged, thoughtful, and deeply committed to mentoring and supporting younger scientists. She is a recognized thought leader in plant cell wall biosynthesis and has authored many seminal papers in the field. Her contributions to both scientific advancement and the broader research community have been exemplary. Maureen’s insightful input on projects, proposals, and publications, her patient and dedicated mentoring of emerging scientists, and her enthusiasm for research all underscore her role as a true pioneer in plant biology.

Peter Ulvskov – I first met Maureen McCann in person in 1998, when she hosted the 8th Cell Wall Meeting at the John Innes Centre. I attended with my then very young lab, and both the meeting and my interactions with Maureen were deeply inspiring. A collaboration soon followed, supported by an EU project, which gave us the opportunity to work closely with her. Among Maureen’s pivotal contributions were the use of FTIR spectroscopy combined with principal component analysis to classify our potato transformants, and the application of confocal microscopy, back then an emerging technique, for immunohistochemical analysis of engineered cell walls.

Maureen has consistently taken original and insightful approaches to cell wall research, and her contributions to the field are both significant and enduring. I am truly pleased to Maureen recognized as a Pioneer of ASPB.