What NAASC members do
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NAASC MISSION
Our mission is to promote Arabidopsis research and researchers to perform cutting edge biology, and provide opportunities to engage and diversify the next generation of scientists.
Our foci are:
Advocate/Support Fundamental Plant Biology using Arabidopsis: See NAASC fundamental biology activities here.
Support excellence in the Arabidopsis community: See NAASC community awards recipients, here.
Support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging in the Arabidopsis Community: See NAASC DEI activities here.
Organize North American International Conferences on Arabidopsis Research, currently in a 3 year rotation with Europe & Asia. See NAASC ICAR activities here; We are now are planning ICAR 2027.
To increase input from early career scientists, we have 1 year NAASC committee terms.
NAASC Steering Committee & elected Early Career Scholar members will:
Interact with elected faculty & early career scholar (ECS) leaders in Arabidopsis biology & the NAASC Executive Director to execute NAASC’s mission, including organizing North American ICAR & other activities.
Serve on NAASC subcommittees/working groups (Footnote 1) to develop & implement activities (w/staff support)
Interact with community members on working groups & subcommittees.
Interact with key groups such as MASC, ABRC, TAIR, etc. to coordinate improvements for Arabidopsis researchers, educators, and for collaboration, coordination, and communication
Examples of past NAASC Faculty activities:
Develop the ICAR 2027-Madison Invited Speaker list (Keynotes & Plenary speakers)
Contribute to published journal articles: fundamental biology; diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging
Select ICAR 2024 mini-symposia from community submissions
Solicit nominees for NAASC awards, Select awardees (Footnote 2)
Discuss/decide location & format of ICARs
Implement community webinars e.g., career development, DEIB, fundamental biology
Develop funding proposals to support NAASC activities
Engage in grant-funded activities, e.g., workshops, training, outreach
Advertise/disseminate information about NAASC activities
Represent NAASC to the Multinational Arabidopsis Steering Committee & other groups
Participate in community initiatives, e.g., as a society in the Root & Shoot NSF RCN award
Examples of past NAASC Early Career Scholar activities:
Collaboratively plan professional development webinars for the communit
Participate in NAASC working groups and subcommittees
Advise NAASC members on initiatives & activities
Network with NAASC Faculty & Executive Director
Participate in NAASC career scholar professional development activitie
Connect with peer Early Career Scholar members
Wrote a blog on the topic of their choice & that is of interest to the Arabidopsis community
The 2026 NAASC Faculty & Early Career Scholar (graduate students & Postdocs) election timeline:
Nominations due by August 31- Nominations now closed
Candidate statements due by September 14
Election: September 16-30
Confirm new members: October 5-9
Community announcement & new terms start: ~October 12-15
You must be in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) to nominate, be nominated, or vote.
Elected Candidate Statement examples can be views on this siteL
Elect 2 Faculty NAASC Nominees for 5 year terms
Faculty Nominees (5 year term)
You must be in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) to nominate, be nominated, or vote.
Review “What NAASC Members Do” and “Examples of past Faculty activities” above.
Eligible: Faculty (any rank or type) at North American research & academic institutions that conduct research and training using Arabidopsis (at least in part)
Term: Mid-October 2026 to Mid-end of October 2031
Estimated Time Commitment*: ~1-2 hours/Per month, average*: Zoom meetings (~1h) Email discussion (~0.5h) Activity implementation (~0.5h) *expected to be more in the year prior to a NAASC-organized ICAR, e.g., before ICAR 2027 Madison, Wisconsin.
(1) Compensation for Faculty Members: NAASC funding for ICAR travel support depends on our fundraising success; we seek to provide up to $1,000 USD/year per NAASC member to participate in ICARs (plus free registration for NAASC-organized ICARs). NAASC is a non-profit without a dedicated funding stream. Our potential revenue comes from (1) grant proposals to fund activities and (2) any fundraising success that exceeds costs for ICARs that we organize. Our next possible ICAR revenue is summer, 2027.
(2) Benefits of being a NAASC faculty member
While NAASC members primarily serve as volunteers to support the Arabidopsis community, there are numerous personal & professional benefits, e.g.,
we fundraise to enable NAASC members to attend ICARs via travel support (described above)
we publish papers based on our activities
members build professional & personal networks
members help shape ICAR program and location
members decide which community-supportive activities to engage in
we are part of the Multinational Arabidopsis Steering Committee
opportunities to network with early career scholars and members of under-represented groups in STEM via the NAASC Early Career Scholars (ECS) program and Inclusivity Scholars (ISP) program and ISP cohort.
NAASC members are expected to fulfill their duties (regular engagement in email, meetings & activities) to receive travel funds and to remain in good-standing on NAASC.
(3) Elected Faculty members will:
Join a subcommittee/working group of their choice (usually meets ~1 hour/month or 3 hours/quarterly) (Footnote 1)
Join quarterly all NAASC zoom meetings (meets ~1 hour, quarterly)
Regularly participate in email discussion of NAASC issues (~0.5h/month, less in non-ICAR years, more in ICAR years)
Participate in NAASC activities (~1h/month; more in an ICAR year)
Be willing to take on a NAASC Board of Director role, as shown (Footnote 3)
(4) Example activities by term (actual activities to be decided by NAASC)
Year 1: Oct '26-Oct '27: Be part of the ICAR 2027- Madison (July 19-23) organizing committee; participate in annual community award selection (winter)
Year 2: Nov '27-Oct '28: Off-ICAR year activities* as decided by NAASC
Year 3: Nov '28-Oct '29: Preparation discussions for ICAR 2030- North America (i.e., choose location, develop program); participate in annual community awards (winter/spring)
Year 4: Nov '29-Oct '30: Organize ICAR 2030 in North America; participate in annual community awards (winter/spring)
Year 5: Nov '27-Oct '28: Off-ICAR year activities* as decided by NAASC
*EXAMPLE: Off-ICAR year activities as decided by NAASC, for example: reviewing/selecting: travel awards if we have funding for foreign ICAR; supporting NAASC community award selection; participating in a working group; helping to support a community webinar
Apply: Faculty Nomination & Application Steps
You can nominate excellent community-minded Arabidopsis faculty in North America; you may also nominate yourself (deadline shown in the timeline above)
NAASC will contact nominees for a Candidate Statement for the ballot (see example Faculty Candidate Statements). Statement prompts ( ~300-600 words): Motivation/interest to serve on NAASC; Your priority area(s) if elected to NAASC; Relevent Expertise, Leadership, or Experience; Brief description of your work using Arabidopsis; How you include/support Community, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) in your work (teaching, mentoring, community work, outreach, etc etc).
Provide this statement by (deadline shown in timeline above) to arabidopsisconference@gmail.com
NAASC will place Candidate Statements on the ballot. Voting will occur for 2 weeks
You must be in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) to nominate, be nominated, or vote.
Elect 3 Early Career Scholar Nominees for 1 year terms
Early Career Scholar Nominees (1 year term)
You must be in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) to nominate, be nominated, or vote.
Review “What NAASC Members Do” & “Examples of past Early Career Scholars activities ” above.
Eligible: Graduate students & postdoctoral scholars at North American research & academic institutions that study and/or conduct research using Arabidopsis (at least in part)
Term: Mid-October 2026 to Mid-end of October 2027
Estimated Time Commitment: ~1-2 hours/Per month on average: Meetings (~1 h) Email discussion (0.25h) Organizing event (~0.5h) Writing blogs (~025h).
(1) Compensation for Early Career Scholar Members: $250 stipend at conclusion of your term with completion ofduties or free registration to ICAR 2027-Madison (July 19-23, 2027)
(2) Benefits of being a NAASC Early Career Scholar member
For 2026-2027: Your choice of free registration to ICAR 2027-Madison, or a $250 stipend at conclusion of your term & successful completion of service.
Gain new leadership and communication skills
Include this position on your CV
Career development opportunities
Expand and strengthen your professional network
(3) Elected ECS members will:
Join the Early Career Scholars Subcommittee (ECSS) which meets 1-2 times quarterly to plan activities such as seminars & workshops aimed at early career scholar interests (~2 workshops/activities in a 1 year term).
Develop an early-career scholar-focused activity for ICAR 2027. Note, you are NOT required to attend ICAR 2027 if you are unable.
Write 1 article, either (1) a blog post on a topic of interest to you and relevance to the Arabidopsis Community or (2) an interview of a current or past NAASC member. SEE EXAMPLES FROM PAST ELECTED ECSS
Help organize at least 1 online workshop, panel or seminar. Examples of previous events here.
Join quarterly NAASC Board Member zoom calls: these are quarterly meetings for 1 hour aimed at discussing important topics to NAASC, making decisions, and brief discussions with working groups and subcommittees (if discussion is needed; otherwise updates are written). These quarterly calls are also a chance to get to know the 10 faculty members on NAASC.
Apply for the Early Career Ballot: Nominate yourself (or be nominated) & Submit 2 brief documents (your information & answers to 2 prompts)
You are nominated/self-nominate: (deadline shown in timeline above)
NAASC will email you for 1 candidate statement & 1 paragraph:
(1) Candidate Statement (150-400 words) about your interest to serve, your background, your priorities (see example ECS Candidate Statements). This will go on the ballot.
(2) Informational paragraph: A brief outline of one activity idea for a NAASC working group or subcommittee (e.g., a webinar, a session at ICAR 2027, etc.) Our objective is to be open to experienced and inexperienced scholars who wish to be engaged and the “idea” statement can stand in for previous experience. Both experience & ideas are valued by NAASC. ECS will also be on ECSS.Provide information in this template (candidate statement & an activity idea) by 14 September 2026 to Joanna Friesner, NAASC Coordinator: arabidopsisconference@gmail.com
NAASC will review submissions & select some or all Candidate Statements for the ballot. Voting will occur over ~2 weeks.
You must be an Arabidopsis community member in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) to nominate, be nominated, or vote.
“The ECSS member selection was the most democratic process. As I started working with the ECSS, it has not only enhanced the networking opportunity, but also provides a good idea how an organization work. I will highly recommend ECSs consider this opportunity.”
“The NAASC is the most community-driven and community-oriented organization out there. Joanna is the highlight here, extremely supportive and truly committed with DEIB.”
Footnotes
(1) Working Groups & Subcommittees (subject to change based on NAASC member interest)
WG1: Financial Sustainability & ICAR fundraising- NAASC financial sustainability & lead in ICAR fundraising organization.
WG4: ISS/DEIB workshops- Inclusivity Scholars Subcommittee- supports initiatives for members of under-represented groups in US STEM, primarily via the Inclusivity Scholars Cohort Program for ICAR; also develops Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging workshops for ICAR.
WG6: Fundamental Biology- develop activities to ensure that funding agencies and others understand the value and impact of fundamental plant biology
WG7: ECSS- Early Career Scholars Subcommittee- provides representation ECS to NAASC, provide a forum to address issues specific to ECS
WG9: NAASC Awards- described in Footnote (2)- annually: help solicit nominations, refine rubrics, select awardees. Members also help host the awards sessions (usually webinars).
(2) NAASC Community Awards- Past Recipients
NAASC Arabidopsis Community Lifetime Achievement Award
NAASC Arabidopsis Community Impact Award (later & early career)
NAASC Dissemination of Arabidopsis Knowledge Award (later & early career)
(3) Board of Director Roles- by year on NAASC*
Year 1: Both members are '“Directors” on the NAASC Executive Board of Directors and will help organize ICAR 2027
Years 2-3: Take part in NAASC activities (help choose what they are, and help implement them)
Year 4: One of the two becomes the NAASC Vice-President; the other may serve as the Secretary.
Year 5: NAASC Vice President from Y4 becomes NAASC President
*these roles are open to flexibility as needed, e.g., if a member needs to switch from one to another for any particular reason. The roles are structural guidelines to help manage NAASC and share the effort on the Board.