Congratulations to CSB Professor Heather McFarlane on earning the Dorothy Shoichet Women Faculty in Science Award of Excellence. McFarlane is receiving the award to support her research into how plants sense and respond to cell wall changes, work that has important applications in the production of renewable bioproducts including paper, cotton, wood, compostable bioplastics and next-generation renewable biofuels.
“Heather is a stellar researcher who produces world-class research through ingenuity and thoughtful guidance for trainees in the lab.” says Professor Jennifer Mitchell, CSB’s Associate Chair, Research. “This award will accelerate the pace of her discoveries by allowing her to devote more time to her research with long term impacts in sustainable agriculture, food security, and next-generation biofuel development.”
The Dorothy Shoichet Women Faculty Science Award of Excellence was established in 2016 by University Professor Molly Shoichet in honour of her late mother. It provides release from teaching for early-career, female researchers in any of the physical or life sciences, computer sciences or mathematics within the faculty.
“I’m deeply honoured to receive the Dorothy Shoichet Award,” says McFarlane. “Time is a valuable resource in the lab and this award provides precious time and the opportunity to focus on research and research training. The award will accelerate my lab’s research as we pursue several exciting directions in our efforts to understand plant cell-wall signaling.”
Congratulations, Prof McFarlane!