Alice Cheung
Alice Cheung is an American biochemist who is a professor of molecular biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research considers the molecular and cellular biology of polarization. She was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2020.
Alice Y. Cheung | |
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Born | |
Alma mater | Smith College Yale University |
Scientific career | |
Institutions | University of Massachusetts Amherst Harvard University |
Early life and education
Cheung was born in Hong Kong. Her parents decided that she and her brother would attend university in the United States, and Cheung moved to Smith College to complete her undergraduate studies. She moved to Yale University for her graduate studies, where she focused on molecular biophysics. Her doctoral research considered the genetic and biochemical regulation of aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. At a scientific conference, she heard Eugene Nester discussing the cell interaction between agrobacteria and plants, which inspired her to learn more about plant biology. After completing her doctoral research, Cheung joined Harvard University as a postdoctoral fellow, learning more about chloroplast-nuclear interactions, and reading the work of Adrienne Clarke and June Nash on Nicotiana tabacum. Inspired by this work, and the work of Elizabeth Lord, Cheung decided to investigate plant reproduction.[1]
Research and career
Cheung was recruited to the faculty at Yale University in 1987. She was promoted to associate professor in 1993, before joining the University of Massachusetts Amherst at a full professor of biochemistry.[1] There she started working in cell biology. Her research considers the role of signalling strategies in plants,[2] with a particular focus on the communication between pollen and pistil, which ultimately leads to fertilisation.[3][4] She showed that FERONIA is an essential aspect of the wall-to-cell communication process.[2][5]
Awards and honors
- 1991 Yale University Junior Faculty Fellowship
- 2010 Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists Award[6]
- 2014 University of Massachusetts Amherst Distinguished Faculty Lecturer and Recipient of Chancellor's Medal[7]
- 2018 University of Massachusetts Amherst Samuel F. Conti Faculty Fellowship Award[8]
- 2020 American Society of Plant Biologists Lawrence Bogorad Award for Excellence in Plant Biology Research[9]
- 2020 Elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science[10]
- Recognized as a Pioneer Member of the American Society of Plant Biologists.[11]
Selected publications
- Peter K. Hepler; Luis Vidali; Alice Y. Cheung (1 January 2001). "Polarized cell growth in higher plants". Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. 17: 159–187. doi:10.1146/ANNUREV.CELLBIO.17.1.159. ISSN 1081-0706. PMID 11687487. Wikidata Q34425154.
- Alice Y. Cheung; Hong Wang; Hen-ming Wu (1 August 1995). "A floral transmitting tissue-specific glycoprotein attracts pollen tubes and stimulates their growth". Cell. 82 (3): 383–393. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(95)90427-1. ISSN 0092-8674. PMID 7634328. Wikidata Q56082822.
- Alice Y Cheung; Hen-Ming Wu (1 January 2008). "Structural and signaling networks for the polar cell growth machinery in pollen tubes". Annual Review of Plant Biology. 59 (1): 547–572. doi:10.1146/ANNUREV.ARPLANT.59.032607.092921. ISSN 1543-5008. PMID 18444907. Wikidata Q37150350.
References
- "ASPB Legacy Society Founding Member" (PDF). ASPB. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- "New UMass Amherst, Stanford Research identifies plant cell wall sensing mechanism". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- "| Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | UMass Amherst". www.biochem.umass.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- "Alice Cheung | Plant Biology Graduate Program at UMass Amherst". gpls.cns.umass.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- Li, Chao; Wu, H.-M.; Cheung, Alice Y. (August 2016). "FERONIA and Her Pals: Functions and Mechanisms". Plant Physiology. 171 (4): 2379–2392. doi:10.1104/pp.16.00667. ISSN 1532-2548. PMC 4972288. PMID 27342308.
- "Fellow of ASPB". American Society of Plant Biologists. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- "Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series/Chancellor's Medal | College of Social & Behavioral Sciences". www.umass.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- "Samuel F. Conti Faculty Fellowship Awards | College of Social & Behavioral Sciences". www.umass.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- "Alice Cheung receives Plant Biology Excellence Award". UMass System. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- "AAAS Announces Leading Scientists Elected as 2020 Fellows | American Association for the Advancement of Science". www.aaas.org. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- "ASPB Pioneer Members".