Testimonials for Pioneer Member Ming-Che Shih

Chun-Yi Chen – Dr. Shih is a passionate scientist with a broad vision, a professor who always thinks of his students, and an admirable pioneer of national agricultural development!

Ho-Ming Chen – When Ming-Che recruited me into the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, the only advice he gave me was to do good science. I appreciated his constant support, patience, and trust throughout the way I developed my research career, which allowed me to pursue basic plant science as well as explore important agriculture questions. His scientific foresight and administrative capacity have advanced agricultural research at our center and in Taiwan. I feel very lucky to be Ming-Che’s colleague, and I have learned a lot from him.

Hsing-Yi Cho – Dr. Shih is not only a pioneering scientist, but also a great mentor. When I look back, he was always patient and generous in supporting me and gave me the freedom and encouragement to pursue any new idea. My Ph.D. and postdoctoral training in his lab changed my worldview. I am very grateful and proud to have been a Shih lab member.

Cheng-Hsun Ho – Ming-Che Shih: is a role model in every aspect. I am Cheng-Hsun Ho, an Assistant Research Fellow of Academia Sinica, Taiwan. I was also Ming-Che’s student. I was recruited to join Academia Sinica few years ago by Ming-Che, who was the director of ABRC, Academia Sinica. What a thrill to work with my teacher. Yet, he treated me like he treated everyone; he treats people equally. There is no doubt how lucky I am to be at ABRC, Academia Sinica, and have the opportunity to work alongside Ming-Che, who is a tremendous giant in our field and a role model at every level. Ming-Che is not only a productive researcher, but also an extremely fruitful mentor and teacher. His contributions to science go way beyond the many papers he authored. He is a giant on whose shoulders many scientists stand. Thus, I support the recognition of Ming-Che Shih as one of the Pioneers of ASPB who are recognized for their leadership and contributions to the community by educating and training next-generation plant biologists. I believe Ming-Che has the attributes to be one of them.

Hsiu-Yin Ho – Dr. Shih, I am grateful to be your research assistant, you always encourages us and allows us to do the experiments we want to do. You support us and give advice in a timely manner. Being your research assistant has made me really enjoy doing experiments. Thank you for all you do.

PaoYuan Hsiao – I consider Dr. Shih to be one of the smartest researchers I’ve ever known. He always gives me useful suggestions. In addition to being a good boss, Dr. Shih is also generous, so I can concentrate on my studies without worry. I am grateful to him for teaching me how to do an effective study starting from different perspectives.

Dai-Keng Hsieh – Thanks Dr. Ming-Che Shih for supporting bioinformatic research in the field of plant pathology.

Fu-Chiun Hsu – Dr. Ming-Che Shih is my greatest of all time mentor in my life and my academic career. He is my role model to learn how to be a good scientist, a good PI, a good advisor, and a good man. I am doing my best to be like him and devote my life to plant science and be a light to guide my students for rest of my life.

Swee-Suak Ko – I am happy to support Professor Ming-Che Shih as a pioneer of ASPB. He has been dedicated to constructing the genomic and transcriptomic resources of Phalaenopsis aphrodite (moth orchid), one of the most important ornamental crops in the world. He generously made these orchid databases available to the public to facilitate research and development of this non-model crop. Besides, he encouraged translation of agricultural R&D and provided grant funding so many young scientists could focus on doing good reseach. I am fortunate to have had his support! His contributions to basic research and applied agricultural should be recognized.

Hawk-Bin Kwon – I spent several years in Dr. Shih’s lab in Iowa as his first PhD student. Aside from being a really outstanding plant biologist, Dr. Shih was a wonderful person to work with. He encouraged and supported everyone in his lab, especially me. Dr. Shih changed my perspective on science and life. He stands out as an advisor and a role model for my life.

Ya-Ru Li – Dr. Wu was the best teacher I ever had. I wouldn’t have become who I am today without his guidance and support.

Jer-Young Lin – Dr. Shih is always enthusiastic about helping and mentoring young faculty.

Yao-Cheng Lin – Dr. Ming-Che Shih has been a great colleague and mentor since I became a faculty member at Academia Sinica. As our Institute Director and later becoming the Commissioner of the new campus, he has been innovative and budget minded. He is a leader in advocating for investment in plant science research, with emphasis on translational agricultural research. He works tirelessly to bridge the research community, industry, and the government to develop a nurturing research environment. Ming-Che has been very supportive of my research and interests, and is a great mentor guiding my research direction. He is truly deserving of recognition as an ASPB Pioneer.

Ming-Jung Liu – Dr. Ming-Che Shih has been a great senior colleague and a mentor since I joined the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center (ABRC), at Academia Sinica, Taiwan. I respect his energy and enthusiasm for plant sciences. He played a pivotal role in advocating for both plant science and translational research in agriculture and was always supportive of grantsmanship during the early phase of my research group.

Soo-Chul Park – I received my PhD from Dr. Ming-Che Shih. I was very impressed by his depth of knowledge in plant molecular biology and his great personality. I regard him as my life mentor and maintain friendship and interaction with him. I am convinced he is well qualified to be recognized as an ASPB Pioneer.

Shin-Han Shiu – Meeting Ming-Che during my postdoc years was one of the major factors that shaped my career. His enthusiasm for embracing new ideas and approaches and creative thinking impacted me greatly. He has been a great mentor by providing feedback on research directions, grant writing, and opportunities for scientific exchange with other colleagues through meetings and review panel invitations. I witnessed his creation of a new institute in Taiwan, focusing on agriculture biotechnology. The success of the institute is a testament to his vision, leadership, and scientific knowledge.

Der-Fen Suen – I am lucky to be a faculty member at the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center (ABRC), Academia Sinica, and have a senior colleague like Ming-Che. As the director of ABRC, Ming-Che has made significant contributions to recruiting talentsed scientists, acquiring funding, simplifying regulations, and especially giving sufficient research freedom. As a senior research fellow, he has helped and guided many junior fellows to establish their labs and research directions. I sincerely thank Ming-Che for his great effort and support.

Yu-lin Wu – It was a great honor for me to be one of your Masters students. I always remember the spirit you taught me, and appreciate your contributions to agricultural research in Taiwan.

Masashi Yamada – Dr. Ming-Che Shih is one of the pioneers in researching how plants respond to the hypoxia stress caused by flooding in soils. He developed research topics in the United States and continued to work on them with great success after returning to Taiwan. Not only did he contribute to this research field internationally, but he also contributed to improving the level of science in Taiwan by being the director of the Institute for many years. I strongly support Ming-Che as a Pioneer of ASPB.

Chin-Ying Yang – When I began my postdoctoral research in the professor Shih’s Lab at Academia Sinica, he patiently talked to me and elevated my thinking and understanding of plant biology. He was a great teacher and mentor. I will be forever grateful for Professor Shih’s support and guidance.

Hung-An Yang – I would like to thank Dr. Shih, who was the person that made an important influence on my life. Dr. Shih is an excellent teacher and a remarkable scientist.

He has great patience while teaching students. When I was a graduated student , he gave me many chances to explore and discover better ways of thinking about experiments and life. Dr. Shih taught me comprehensive thinking and how to have an open mind and think about every kind of possibility. The strategies Dr. Shih taught me have helped me a lot. Dr. Shih cares very much about the life of students, like a kind father.

I am lucky and thankful for being a member of Dr. Shih’s lab. Thanks to my best and admirable teacher, Professor Ming-che Shih.

Hsin-Hung Yeh – Although Taiwan’s agricultural research established a good foundation in the past, it faces new challenges such as global climate and geopolitics changes. With the advent of novel technologies, various omics studies combined with big data analysis are gradually being applied to agricultural research, which brings new challenges to traditional agricultural research and industrial development. The implementation of omics research must utilize scientists from different areas of expertise, and the scale of research funding far beyond what a single laboratory can afford. Dr. Ming-Che Shih has visited various first-line agricultural research institutes and enterprises in Taiwan since he became the Director of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center Academia Sinica. He understands the strengths and problems of Taiwan’s agriculture, and he planned fundamental research that must be established in Taiwan. He put effort into seeking financial support and found suitable scientists to develop the most effective and advanced technology aiming to solve current and future agricultural problems faced in Taiwan. With his effort, various databases, including genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, phenotypic and molecular markers of important Taiwanese crops, such as rice, tomato, banana, orchid, cantaloupe, …etc., and he continues to enrich the contents of each database. In addition, he also leads colleagues to develop rapid gene functional analysis and genome editing technology of model and non-model crops. All of these are important for precision crop breeding. If the basis of breeding in the past was a collection of different varieties of crops, the foundation for precision breeding in the future will be the establishment of omics databases, rapid gene functional analysis methods, and genome editing technology. Dr. Ming-Che Shih has made tremendous contributions to the new era of agricultural science and industry in Taiwan.