The 2025 Loomis Distinguished Lecture and IPB Mini-Symposium (Theme: Plants and The Environment: Molecular to Systems Level) will begin with a continental breakfast and registration starting at 8:30 a.m. in the Molecular Biology Building (MBB) atrium on Wednesday, May 21. The Interdepartmental Plant Biology graduate program hosts the symposium. 

The program begins at 9 a.m. in 1414 MBB. The Loomis Lecture will start at 9:10 a.m. with Jian Hua from Cornell University speaking on "Regulation of immunity and thermos-response by a calcium and lipid binding protein BONZAI1 in Arabidopsis." 

Other speakers include:

• Anjali Iyer-Pascuzzi from Purdue University, "Plant immunity across scales: from cells to space"
• Matthew Wendt, graduate student in Yandeau-Nelson Lab, "Quantifying the environmental factors and genotype-by-weather interactions that impact the cuticular waxes protecting maize silks"
• Vishadinie Jayasinghe, graduate student in Bassham Lab, "Unraveling the role of autophagy in maize abiotic stress responses"
• Venkata Naresh Boddepalli, graduate student in the Singh Lab, "Genetic analysis of mungbean pod traits in Iowa Mung Bean Diversity Panel using image-based phenotyping"
• Maheshi Dassanayake, Louisiana State University, "Decoding salt resilience in extremophytes through a multiscale exploration from cell to species level" 

Please note that in-person registration is also available for anyone now able to attend.