ASPB members share a common goal of promoting the growth, development, and outreach of plant biology as a pure and applied science. This column features some of the dedicated and innovative members of ASPB who believe that membership in our Society is crucial to the future of plant biology. If you are interested in contributing to this feature, please contact ASPB Membership at info@aspb.org.

Membership Corner

Name: Abidur Rahman
Title: Senior Postdoctoral Researcher
Place of Work or School: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Research Area: Hormone signal transduction, gravitropism, auxin transport
Member since: 2000

1. Why has being a member of ASPB been important?
I believe that ASPB represents the largest community of plant biologists. Definitely, it is an honor to be a part of this community. During my graduate study, which I did in Japan, I always felt that communicating with the scientists in the USA who were part of ASPB was instrumental to my work. I had the privilege of attending ASPB annual meetings, which helped me connect with researchers working in diverse fields of plant biology. Membership also provides a platform to share research results and interact with fellow researchers to develop collaborations, which I believe is one of the most exciting parts of doing science. Another sweet part of attending ASPB conferences is to meet old friends and colleagues whom I hardly get to see. Being a member, I also get immediate online access to the Society’s two highly ranked plant biology journals, helping me stay on top of the current research affairs. Lastly, I think that ASPB membership provides me with an incredibly important resource for pursuing my career in plant biology.

2. Was someone instrumental in getting you to join ASPB?
Not really. I was planning to attend the Plant Biology meeting in 2000 and found that ASPB offers some benefits to members for attending the conference. I opted to get a membership and since then have been enjoying the privileges of membership.

3. What would you tell colleagues to encourage them to join?
ASPB provides resources, contacts, and opportunities to its members. Anybody who wants to pursue a career in plant biology should take advantage of these benefits. From my experience, I would strongly encourage graduate students and postdocs to join this professional society. Attending the ASPB meeting always helps one make professional contacts, and that in the long run is important for career enhancement.

4. Have you enhanced your career using ASPB job postings or through networking at an ASPB function?
Yes, for sure. The ASPB meeting is a perfect place for exchanging ideas and developing collaborations with fellow researchers. I take full advantage of these opportunities and so far have made two successful collaborations. Right now I am looking for a faculty position and have applied for a couple that I found on the ASPB online Job Bank. I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

5. Have you had any success at finding candidates as a result of a job posting at the meeting or on our online Job Bank?
No. I am not in that position yet. I hope that in the future I will be able to use this resource in hiring somebody!

6. Do you read print journals? If so, where do you usually read them?
Yes. I love to read the print journals, including printed PDF files, and I really feel comfortable with print over the online version. Although I have to admit that for a quick look, the online journals are very handy and good. Usually I read them at my workplace.

7. What do you think is the next “big thing” in plant biology?
That’s a very difficult question to answer. So many new fronts have opened up in the past five years, and more new things are coming…it is really difficult to predict. I think one of the most exciting things will be an integrated study of genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. This will help us to fit a lot of puzzle pieces together. Considering environmental pollution and its influence, phytoremediation should and must play a greater role in the future.

8. What person, living or deceased, do you most admire?
It’s really difficult for me to pick a single person to identify as the one I most admire. There have been many people who in some way or the other have helped or are still helping me to achieve my goals. My parents and my wife are always supportive. I am indebted to all of them.

9. What are you reading these days?
Besides science reading, I just finished reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!

10. What are your hobbies?
I like traveling, photography, and music. Nowadays, most of my leisure time is dedicated to my three-year-old son.

11. What is your most treasured possession?
I am tempted to say my family and friends, but I really don’t possess them. I am fortunate to have many wonderful friends all over the world. These relationships are probably my most treasured possessions.

12. What do you still have left to learn?
Everything. Let me answer this with one of my favorite quotes, by Ethel Barrymore: “You must learn day by day, year by year, to broaden your horizon. The more things you love, the more you are interested in, the more you enjoy, the more you are indignant about, the more you have left when anything happens.”