UC Davis Doctoral Alumna Fiona Goggin of University of Arkansas to Give Seminar
She'll Speak on 'Plant Defensive Signaling and Its Impacts on Herbivory, Plant Growth, and Development'
UC Davis doctoral alumna Fiona Goggin, professor of entomology and plant pathology at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, will speak on "Plant Defensive Signaling and Its Impacts on Herbivory, Plant Growth, and Development" at the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology seminar on Monday, April 21.
Her seminar is at 4:10 p.m. in 122 Briggs Hall and also will be on Zoom. The link: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/95882849672.
"Much like pathogens, vascular herbivores such as aphids or nematodes trigger immune signaling in plants, often activating downstream defenses that limit the severity of the infestation," Goggin writes in her abstract. "This seminar will cover two case studies in herbivore-responsive defense signaling: the influence of plant elicitor peptides on nematode infection on soybean, and the role of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) from the chloroplast in plant-aphid interactions in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We will discuss practical applications of this work for pest management as well as fundamental insights into the intersections between primary metabolism and defense in plants."
UC Davis Doctorate in Entomology in 2001
Goggin holds a bachelor's degree in plant science (1987) from Cornell University. She received her doctorate in entomology from UC Davis in 2001, the same year she joined U of A as an assistant professor. She advanced to full professor in 2011. In addition to her role as professor, she directs the Arkansas Bioimaging Facility for Agricultural Research and is a past chair of the Bumpers College Faculty Council.
The U of A Office of the Provost last August selected Goggin as a Provost's Fellow for Mentoring for the 2024-25 academic year. "During her fellowship, Goggin will focus on assisting the Provost's Office in supporting the university's reputation as an employer of choice and by leveraging the current infrastructure of the Bridge Mentoring Program and the U of A ENGAGE Leadership Exploration Program to expand and deepen faculty connections to faculty life on campus and with each other around research, teaching and leadership development," according to a news release.
She focuses her research on plant defenses against herbivory with an emphasis on mechanisms of resistance against vascular feeders such as aphids and root-knot nematodes. "She has published 53 peer-reviewed articles and has helped secure more than $10 million in competitive grant funding. In addition, she has been invited to speak at more than 100 research presentations," the news release related.
Goggin received the U of A's Golden Tusk Award in 2020 for graduate advising; the Southeastern Branch Entomological Society of America Recognition Award in Insect Physiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology in 2014; the Outstanding Mentor Award from the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards in 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014 and 2017 for undergraduate research advising; and the Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award from the Office of the Provost in 2024. "She was also instrumental in her department receiving the Provost's Award for Departmental Excellence in Mentoring in April 2024." During the 2023-24 academic year, she served as a UA ENGAGE co-director, and she is a recent alumna of iLEAD, the U of A Division of Agriculture's leadership development program."
Nematologist and assistant professor Amanda Hodson, coordinates the ENT seminars. For any technical issues with Zoom, she may be reached at akhodson@ucdavis.edu.
Resource:
Fiona Goggin Featured on YouTube: Understanding Plant Biology/Behind the Discovery, Arkansas Division of Agriculture. "Fiona Goggin is determined to better understand our complex and beautiful world. With sustainable agricultural practices becoming increasingly important, Goggin aims to find safe and effective biological pest control solutions. Goggin studies the interactions of plants and pests that attack their sugar transport systems. For example, Goggin studies nematodes, which cost American soybean growers billions of dollars in yield losses each year. But Goggin says working with students is what she loves most."