Miroslava Anderova – I worked in Julian I. Schoeder’s laboratory from April 1991 to August 1993. Thanks to the experience I gained there, especially in electrophysiology – namely the patch clamp technique, I obtained another postdoctoral position in France. After returning to the Czech Republic, I was succesfull in receiving grants, hiring PhD students and in 2010 I became the head of a department that now focuses on the electrophysiological properties of glial cells. Thus, the postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Julian I. Schoeder, more precisely his way of solving the research projects, student guidance, openness to new methodological approaches and friendly atmosphere in the lab, significantly contributed my career.

Aurélien Boisson-Dernier – Julian has made many outstanding research contributions to the ABA and guard cell signaling fields, and in that sense is a true plant biology pioneer. During my time in his lab, he was open minded and actively solicited us to widen our research scope and interests, and to try new techniques or develop our own. He created a cooperative work place and atmosphere for his lab members, with regular lab events, even thoughI have to admit German Christmas carols are not for everyone ;o). Working with him on writing and submitting science manuscripts was a fantastic learning experience. He supported us to apply for new positions to reach our next career steps. He has never ignored a single one of my emails, even long after I left his group or even the country. Thank you very much Julian!

Walter Cassmann – As a first-year graduate student in the Department of Biology in 1990, I did my second rotation in Julian’s lab. The brief introduction into his research program he had given to our class had fascinated me, so I wanted to know more, even though I came to UCSD out of interest in a different lab and had not planned to get into plant biology. It turned out that electrophysiology suited me as a subject, and the new patch-clamp technique applied to plants promised a trove of new insights. Julian had a knack of conveying his excitement and enthusiasm to his lab, which was just getting going when I joined. Fast-forward 30 plus years, and it is amazing, although not at all surprising, to see all the research firsts, honors and awards Julian deservedly has garnered. And he is not done yet. Throughout his career, Julian has performed pioneering work that gives us a better picture of how plants work. These insights are being harnessed to make crop plants more resilient to environmental stresses. On a personal level, I feel very fortunate to have started my career as a scientist in Julian’s lab, which was a very exciting and collaborative environment where good science and hard work were modeled by Julian. Many of us former lab members have carried lessons learned from him forward to our own careers. It is entirely fitting to celebrate Julian as an ASPB Pioneer.

Stephan Clemens – The time I spent in Julian’s lab as a postdoc at UC San Diego have been the best years of my life in more than one way. The international group Julian assembled and led provided an exceptionally inspiring environment. We had so much fun together, experienced the thrill of exciting experiments. I had the opportunity to learn how to do science, how to develop my own projects, how to guide others. To this day, I frequently look back and feel grateful to Julian for being such an awesome scientist, a role model, a mentor.

Alex Costa – The experience I had as a postdoc in Julian Schroeder’s laboratory laid the foundations of my academic career. My expertise in the study of calcium signaling is based precisely on the research carried out in the lab of Prof. Schroeder, who was the first to express the Cameleon sensor in a plant and use it to study ABA signaling in guard cells. If I hadn’t had the chance to work in his lab and been able to participate in the frequent lab meetings and one on one research discussions, I would not be the researcher I am today. Most of my international collaborations today are with people who have worked in his lab at different times, an indication of Julian’s ability to create a great team.

Jiming Gong – Dr. Julian Schroeder did pioneering work in both guard cell signaling and plant nutrition. He trained lots of scientists from all over the world, and most of them have become outstanding scientists and contributed to promoting scientific research in their own countries. He also served as the president of ASPB and helped promote scientific research communities.

Tomoaki Horie – I was a member of Julian’s lab at UC San Diego, and I spent more than five years as a postdoc and a staff research associate from 2001 to 2007. I joined his lab right after getting a PhD degree in Japan. I was immature as a scientist, but I learned lots of things from Julian and my excellent colleagues in his lab, including how to write a succinct academic paper and give a good presentation at meetings. It must have been hard for Julian to edit a draft of some of the manuscripts prepared by me, but the corrections and comments he wrote increased my skill for writing manuscripts. He also gave me precious opportunities to present my work at several meetings and see many excellent and world famous plant biologists. Owing to these experiences, I have been able to build a research network that helps with ongoing research projects in my lab.

June M. Kwak – Julian Schroeder is one of the pioneers who contributed to the current understanding of ion channels, transporters, and signaling molecules that regulate stomatal physiology and the removal of heavy metals from soil. His research addresses fundamental biological questions and environmental issues.

Pascal Maeser – Julian is a great scientist and a great mentor! I am deeply grateful for the wonderful time I had in his lab at UCSD.

Nobuyuki Uozumi – Dr. Julian Schroeder is the pioneer who introduced patch clamp recordings and Xenopus oocyte recordings of plant channels and transporters, They helped reveal membrane transport systems that control ion homeostasis and enhance tolerance to abiotic stress.

Hugouvieux Véronique – I worked for five years as a postdoctoral researcher at ‘UCSD’ in Julian Schroeder’s team. There I discovered high-level science, and I was able, being well surrounded, to publish in one of the best scientific journals. Working with Julian was a springboard for my professional life, and it allowed me to obtain a superb position in academic research in France, where I wanted to be. I will never forget the time I had in his lab at UCSD.