Gordon Research Seminar and Gordon Research ConferencePlant Lipids: Structure, Metabolism, and Function

Gordon Research Conferences, East Greenwich RI

Investigators

Abstract

The 2017 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Seminar (GRS) "Plant Lipids: Structure, Metabolism, and Function" integrates concepts and approaches in mechanisms and signaling function of plant lipids. The meetings, to be held January 28 through February 3, 2017 at the Hotel Galvez in Galveston, Texas will advance the field by introducing new emerging paradigms not presented previously. The GRC is internationally known for high-quality, cutting-edge meetings, and because of this many scientists want to attend and contribute to a GRC. The scientific talks, discussions, and poster presentations at the 2017 meeting will stimulate new research directions, and provide underpinnings for collaborative interactions that advance the study of lipid signaling, metabolism, and function. In addition to this impact on the field, the GRS will offer a concentrated opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees to network and learn. Participating as a presenter and interacting with other scientists in the supportive atmosphere of the GRS and GRC provides an excellent opportunity for beginning researchers to develop a strong network of peers and senior colleagues, while increasing scientific breadth and depth. Lunch table mentoring sessions also seek to actively engage students with established investigators to ask questions. The GRC on Plant Lipids has an excellent track record in recruiting diverse speakers and providing leadership opportunities to women, specifically the current proportion of women among the invited speakers and discussion leaders (33%). Additional speakers of under-represented status will be sought to attend the meeting. Topics to be discussed include plant lipid-mediated post-translational modification; genome modification approaches to metabolic engineering of lipid biosynthesis; "omic" platforms for lipid analyses; lipid imaging, spectroscopy; molecular modelling and computational approaches. Moreover, new approaches to stimulate critical discussion will also be deployed, including a focus on integration of knowledge and approaches between metabolism and lipid signaling. Second, significant meeting time will be devoted to selected talks from submitted abstracts and as such more presentations on novel technologies like flux modeling, and exposure to the state of the art technologies for early career scientists at the GRC meeting. Together, these activities will ensure that the GRC on Plant Lipids will bring together experts working to create and disseminate new research tools, discover fundamental paradigms for lipid-mediated regulation of plant responses to developmental and environmental cues.