Contact Information Vicki Chandler 520-626-8725 chandler@ag.arizona.edu Chandler's web site Brian M. Hyps ASPB public affairs director 301-251-0560 x114 bhyps@aspb.org ASPB.org

Vicki Chandler, a professor in the departments of plant sciences and in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Arizona, was elected the new president of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) on Oct. 1.

This is the highest elected office within the Society, and Chandler's term is one-year. She was president-elect of ASPB beginning Oct. 1, 2000. Chandler, who has a doctorate from the University of California at San Francisco, came to the University of Arizona in 1997 from the University of Oregon. Her research involves the study of genetic mechanisms controlling gene expression in different cell types and at particular times during their development.

Her colleague at the UA, Brian Larkins, was President of ASPB from 1998 to 1999.

ASPB is a non-profit science society with nearly 6,000 member scientists from the United States and four dozen other nations. Its members are scientists from academia, government and industry, including teachers and students, biochemists, cell and molecular biologists, geneticists, physiologists and other plant scientists. Research by ASPB members greatly increases existing knowledge of biological processes of plants resulting in many benefits including new and more efficient practices in the growth of plants for food, fiber, fuel, industrial chemicals, medicine and protection of the environment. ASPB publishes two internationally respected science journals: Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell. This year, ASPB changed its name from the American Society of Plant Physiologists, founded in 1924, to reflect its expanded membership.