Name: David Puthoff
Title: Assistant Professor
Place of Work or School: Frostburg State University
Research Area: Plant–pathogen interactions
Member since: 1998

1. Why has being a member of ASPB been important to you?
It has been great to be a part of an organization devoted to plants. I have found so much information, including job ads, funding resources, teaching resources, and more on the website. The best thing is that all the people at meetings and in the publications think plants are as cool as I do.

2. Was someone instrumental in getting you to join ASPB?
My graduate adviser, Dr. Linda Walling, gave me a one-year membership and I never looked back.

3. What would you tell colleagues to encourage them to join?
I would tell them that ASPB is a great networking place. The annual meetings are a great place to get new ideas and learn new techniques. Plus, you get free electronic access to the
publications.

4. Have you enhanced your career using ASPB job postings or through networking at an ASPB function?
I have found many job ads (postdoc and tenure-track) that have been useful. I have even been hired from at least one of those job ads. It is a great resource.

5. Have you had any success at finding candidates as a result of a job posting at the meeting or via our online Job Bank?
Have not used that, YET!

6. Do you read print journals? If so, where do you usually read them?
I read only the online versions and most of the time it is in my office. Sorry, I am rather boring that way.

7. What do you think is the next “big thing” in plant biology?
I think the next “big thing” in plant biology will be the exploitation of the power of transgenic plants. There are lots of hurdles to cross and still many more things to learn, but in the future I think they will bring us great returns.

8. What person, living or deceased, do you most admire?
I cannot narrow it down to one or even a few. Each has traits I admire and they all have some that I think they could improve upon. I know, typical scientist answer—there are always exceptions and many shades of gray.

9. What are you reading these days?
Besides The Plant Cell and Plant Physiology, many kids books to my three children. Not much time for adult books, but I do like Robin Cook.

10. What are your hobbies?
My hobbies include gardening, just being outside, and drag racing.

11. What is your most treasured possession?
My most treasured possession is my family. I have a wonderful wife and three beautiful children.

12. What do you still have left to learn?
So many things. The most important things are how to squeeze a couple more hours into a day and to not worry about things that I cannot change.