Plant metabolism and metabolic engineering at MSU

Michigan State University has a longstanding commitment to excellence in plant metabolism. Researchers in the departments of Biochemistry& Molecular Biology, Plant Biology, and the Plant Research Laboratory are actively investigating the mechanisms and regulation of primary and secondary metabolic processes in plants.

Here we need two-three more paragraphs on MSU and Plant Metabolism, ?History? ?MAES? ?Facilities? ?Life Sciences Corridor? ?Land Grant U? ?Stats on $ etc?  ?Graduate Programs?

Modern molecular genetic methods that enable the induction or suppression of selected gene expression and the transfer of genes between species have made possible the deliberate alteration of metabolic processes at the genetic level. Metabolic engineering  as it is known, allows alterations in metabolism for both practical purposes and for the investigation of fundamental metabolic processes. As such it is a very potent tool in both modern agriculture and the plant sciences.

For this front page and the other pages we need a background design (?suggestions?). For  the subpages below we need images on plant metabolism and metabolic engineering.

• Members of the Plant Metabolism Group and their research
• Opportunities: seeking Postdoctoral researchers
• Opportunities: Graduate programs in the Plant Sciences at MSU
• Plant Metabolism: Journals, Societies, Resources
• Metabolic Engineering: Information sources on Genetically Modified Organisms
• ??? others

DRAFT FOR A DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

**************************************************************************************************

Dear ___________

I hope this finds you well. I am writing to ask you to alert any suitable students or post doctoral associates that you know to the attached advert which will be appearing in Science and at the ASPB website in the coming weeks. With the arrival of two new faculty members at Michigan State this summer (Yair Shachar-Hill and Andreas Weber) the university has strengthened its longstanding commitment to research in Plant Metabolism and Metabolic Engineering. As a group of plant biochemists we are very excited about the opportunities that this creates for us and for the training of plant scientists at MSU. For the establishment of the two new groups and for the growth and development of projects in the groups already established here we expect to hire between four and eight highly motivated and qualified post-doctoral associates over the next 6-18 months.

If you know of any strong candidates who may be interested in one or more of the groups and projects listed, please encourage them to contact us at the email address listed on the ad.

With our thanks, best wishes,

______________________

The Plant Metabolism Group

Michigan State University

**************************************************************************************************