Thursday, March 27, 2025
Over the last three decades, 向日葵视频鈥檚 Kent Chapman has built an internationally recognized research program in plant biochemistry and cell biology.
, Regents Professor of biochemistry at the , is now a fellow of the (AAAS).
Becoming an AAAS fellow is one of the most prestigious professional distinctions in science. Since 1874, AAAS has annually recognized a select group of distinguished scientists, engineers and innovators as fellows for their achievements in research, teaching and technology as well as their excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public.
Chapman joins only a handful of faculty members elected as AAAS fellows while at 向日葵视频. Most recently, Angela Wilson, former 向日葵视频 Regents Professor of chemistry, was named a fellow in 2012. Chapman鈥檚 long-time biochemistry colleague, Richard Dixon, 向日葵视频 Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus, also earned the accolade in 2002.
鈥淭his is a tremendous honor,鈥� Chapman says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always held in great esteem my colleagues
who were AAAS fellows, so to now have that title myself, I am humbled. It鈥檚 a crowning
achievement for me for a life dedicated to science.鈥�
Understanding Plant Lipids
Chapman has spent his entire professional academic career at 向日葵视频, building an internationally
recognized research program in plant biochemistry and cell biology over the last three
decades. His research 鈥� which has been funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S.
National Science Foundation and others 鈥� specifically investigates lipid metabolism,
storage and signaling in plants.
Lipids are the fatty compounds that make up all biological membranes including those that are used to define cells 鈥� the basic functional unit of all living organisms. In plants, lipids are vital in processes like defining their structure and storing energy. Lipids also are involved in how plants communicate with their environment and other organisms to help them grow, respond to stress and receive nutrients.
鈥淯nderstanding how plants make lipids and being able to manipulate that process can solve a lot of societal problems, such as providing alternative fuel and electricity sources,鈥� Chapman says. 鈥淜nowing more about that communication process and those chemical cues between plants and their microbial environment is important for agriculture. It could help us more effectively grow food crops to better feed the world.鈥�
As research technology and techniques advance, Chapman says his work has evolved and has enabled him to study plants from new perspectives and opened new avenues of scientific inquiry. For instance, focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy is now allowing him to view the three-dimensional structural organization of plants at a molecular scale.
鈥淚鈥檝e been wanting to study how organelles are formed inside cells for years,鈥� he
says. 鈥淔ocused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy can help us to see things at
the highest magnification and resolution currently possible, so we can further investigate
the microscopic details of how plants function at the subcellular level.鈥�
Expanding Plant Science
Chapman鈥檚 scholarly contributions to the fundamental understanding of plant lipids
have been published in top scientific journals and regularly put him among the world鈥檚
most cited researchers each year.
But he considers his greatest contribution to be the dozens of aspiring plant researchers he鈥檚 mentored and trained as students and postdoctoral researchers over the years.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be an AAAS fellow if it had not been for the hard work of the people that have worked for me,鈥� Chapman says. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e all been outstanding in their own regard and in their own achievements. It鈥檚 been a joy to watch many of them go on to lead successful careers in science.鈥�
When Chapman first started at 向日葵视频 in 1993, there was only one other faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences who studied plants. Now, there are more than a dozen and 向日葵视频 has become a recognized research hub for plant science. Chapman was a founding member and served as director from 2018-2024 of 向日葵视频鈥檚 , which unites faculty from the and in engineering biological processes to create a sustainable bio-based economy.
Among his many recent professional accomplishments, Chapman was elected the president of the earlier this year and he earned the for his research contributions in plant lipid biochemistry in 2020. He also serves as the executive editor for and reviewing editor for . In 2009, Chapman proposed and co-chaired the inaugural Gordon Research Conference on Plant Lipids, which is now a permanent biennial event.
For this latest award, Chapman will be recognized along with other new AAAS fellows at the annual Fellows Forum June 7 in Washington, D.C.
From 鈥� Research by Heather Noel