Arif Ashraf
@aribidopsis.bsky.social
Assistant professor of Botany at the University of British Columbia. My lab works on cell division and beyond.
Lab website: https://www.ashraflab.com/
Lab website: https://www.ashraflab.com/
Pinned
Arif Ashraf
@aribidopsis.bsky.social
· Oct 10
Massive news for the lab 🎉🎉🎉
We received Canada Foundation for Innovation - CFI's JELF (John R. Evans Leaders Fund) grant!
Thanks to the team, office of research @science.ubc.ca, and colleagues @ubcbotany.bsky.social for the generous help and support.
www.innovation.ca/news/jelf-cf...
We received Canada Foundation for Innovation - CFI's JELF (John R. Evans Leaders Fund) grant!
Thanks to the team, office of research @science.ubc.ca, and colleagues @ubcbotany.bsky.social for the generous help and support.
www.innovation.ca/news/jelf-cf...
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Very happy to share that this paper is now online on @currentbiology.bsky.social !! 🥳🧪 Check out the final published verion here: www.cell.com/current-biol...
#mimuluspropaganda
#mimuluspropaganda
November 24, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Very happy to share that this paper is now online on @currentbiology.bsky.social !! 🥳🧪 Check out the final published verion here: www.cell.com/current-biol...
#mimuluspropaganda
#mimuluspropaganda
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Spatiotemporal dynamics of CYCLOIDEA expression during early floral development in monkeyflower www.cell.com/current-biol...
Spatiotemporal dynamics of CYCLOIDEA expression during early floral development in monkeyflower
Bilateral floral symmetry is a repeated evolutionary innovation governed by the CYCLOIDEA-dependent
program, yet how the dorsal-specific CYC expression is initiated and maintained remains
elusive. Min...
www.cell.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Spatiotemporal dynamics of CYCLOIDEA expression during early floral development in monkeyflower www.cell.com/current-biol...
It's good to be back with a new season of #No_Time_To_Read_podcast! 🍀
This podcast, which I started as a postdoc, is growing with me. Thanks for your support over the years.
We have great a line up of awesome plant scientists appearing in Season 4! 🎙️
open.spotify.com/episode/4xHh...
This podcast, which I started as a postdoc, is growing with me. Thanks for your support over the years.
We have great a line up of awesome plant scientists appearing in Season 4! 🎙️
open.spotify.com/episode/4xHh...
November 22, 2025 at 10:33 PM
It's good to be back with a new season of #No_Time_To_Read_podcast! 🍀
This podcast, which I started as a postdoc, is growing with me. Thanks for your support over the years.
We have great a line up of awesome plant scientists appearing in Season 4! 🎙️
open.spotify.com/episode/4xHh...
This podcast, which I started as a postdoc, is growing with me. Thanks for your support over the years.
We have great a line up of awesome plant scientists appearing in Season 4! 🎙️
open.spotify.com/episode/4xHh...
🔬🍀
Joh & Jessica shared some pictures with me from EMBL Heidelberg
Joh & Jessica shared some pictures with me from EMBL Heidelberg
November 21, 2025 at 4:29 PM
🔬🍀
Joh & Jessica shared some pictures with me from EMBL Heidelberg
Joh & Jessica shared some pictures with me from EMBL Heidelberg
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
My department is hiring a non-seed plant assistant professor!! Come join us @ubcbotany.bsky.social! BC has spectacular non-seed plant diversity and I would love to nerd out with a future colleague about all those cute little green guys outside! 💚 pls share!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31140
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31140
University of British Columbia, Botany
Job #AJO31140, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN NON-SEED PLANT DIVERSITY (BRYOPHYTES, FERNS, LYCOPHYTES), Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
academicjobsonline.org
November 17, 2025 at 11:48 PM
My department is hiring a non-seed plant assistant professor!! Come join us @ubcbotany.bsky.social! BC has spectacular non-seed plant diversity and I would love to nerd out with a future colleague about all those cute little green guys outside! 💚 pls share!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31140
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31140
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
#UBC Botany is hiring an Assistant Professor in Non-Seed Plant Diversity - come work with us in beautiful #Vancouver, BC! Please repost!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31140
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31140
University of British Columbia, Botany
Job #AJO31140, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN NON-SEED PLANT DIVERSITY (BRYOPHYTES, FERNS, LYCOPHYTES), Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
academicjobsonline.org
November 20, 2025 at 10:10 PM
#UBC Botany is hiring an Assistant Professor in Non-Seed Plant Diversity - come work with us in beautiful #Vancouver, BC! Please repost!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31140
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31140
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
NAASC is happy to share the newly elected:
1- faculty: Anna Dobritsa, Ohio State University, Tomo Kawashima, University of Kentucky, USA
2- early career scholars: Maria Gómez Méndez, UC Riverside, USA Daniela DeLa Mora, CINVESTAV Mexico, Julia Zheku, UBC, Canada!
Thanks to all on the ballot! 💚
1- faculty: Anna Dobritsa, Ohio State University, Tomo Kawashima, University of Kentucky, USA
2- early career scholars: Maria Gómez Méndez, UC Riverside, USA Daniela DeLa Mora, CINVESTAV Mexico, Julia Zheku, UBC, Canada!
Thanks to all on the ballot! 💚
November 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
NAASC is happy to share the newly elected:
1- faculty: Anna Dobritsa, Ohio State University, Tomo Kawashima, University of Kentucky, USA
2- early career scholars: Maria Gómez Méndez, UC Riverside, USA Daniela DeLa Mora, CINVESTAV Mexico, Julia Zheku, UBC, Canada!
Thanks to all on the ballot! 💚
1- faculty: Anna Dobritsa, Ohio State University, Tomo Kawashima, University of Kentucky, USA
2- early career scholars: Maria Gómez Méndez, UC Riverside, USA Daniela DeLa Mora, CINVESTAV Mexico, Julia Zheku, UBC, Canada!
Thanks to all on the ballot! 💚
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
I am currently searching for a new postdoctoral researcher to study the evolution, genetics, and physiology of cold acclimation and freezing tolerance in switchgrass at Michigan State University. This work will be funded by a newly funded five-year DOE grant. careers.msu.edu/jobs/researc...
Research Associate-Fixed Term - East Lansing, Michigan, United States
Position Summary
The Lowry Lab at Michigan State University is searching for a postdoctoral research associate to conduct molecular and physiological experiments to understand the causes of genetic va...
careers.msu.edu
November 20, 2025 at 2:50 PM
I am currently searching for a new postdoctoral researcher to study the evolution, genetics, and physiology of cold acclimation and freezing tolerance in switchgrass at Michigan State University. This work will be funded by a newly funded five-year DOE grant. careers.msu.edu/jobs/researc...
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Which Arabidopsis gene discoveries have informed crop trait improvements? Here are just a few...
Are you aware of others? 🧪
#plantbiology #plantscience #scisky #cropscience
Are you aware of others? 🧪
#plantbiology #plantscience #scisky #cropscience
November 19, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Which Arabidopsis gene discoveries have informed crop trait improvements? Here are just a few...
Are you aware of others? 🧪
#plantbiology #plantscience #scisky #cropscience
Are you aware of others? 🧪
#plantbiology #plantscience #scisky #cropscience
I was fortunate to listen a great talk by Sherry Flint-Garcia this morning in the Zeavolution seminar series.
The pigmentation imaging of maize kernel at cellular level is gorgeous! 🌽🔬
The pigmentation imaging of maize kernel at cellular level is gorgeous! 🌽🔬
November 19, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I was fortunate to listen a great talk by Sherry Flint-Garcia this morning in the Zeavolution seminar series.
The pigmentation imaging of maize kernel at cellular level is gorgeous! 🌽🔬
The pigmentation imaging of maize kernel at cellular level is gorgeous! 🌽🔬
Jessica @jessicaa-orr.bsky.social and Joh are presenting tomorrow (Thursday) from 17:00-19:00
Jessica: Poster #106 (Nucleus and movement)
Joh: Poster #64 (Nucleus and Mitosis)
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
Jessica: Poster #106 (Nucleus and movement)
Joh: Poster #64 (Nucleus and Mitosis)
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
🔬🍀
My students, @jessicaa-orr.bsky.social & Joh, are currently attending the EMBL Symposium on Cell Biology of the Nucleus.
Movie highlights the dynamic change in nuclear shape.
Find Jessica and Joh in the poster session to know more about our work.
www.ashraflab.com
My students, @jessicaa-orr.bsky.social & Joh, are currently attending the EMBL Symposium on Cell Biology of the Nucleus.
Movie highlights the dynamic change in nuclear shape.
Find Jessica and Joh in the poster session to know more about our work.
www.ashraflab.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Jessica @jessicaa-orr.bsky.social and Joh are presenting tomorrow (Thursday) from 17:00-19:00
Jessica: Poster #106 (Nucleus and movement)
Joh: Poster #64 (Nucleus and Mitosis)
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
Jessica: Poster #106 (Nucleus and movement)
Joh: Poster #64 (Nucleus and Mitosis)
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
🔬🍀
My students, @jessicaa-orr.bsky.social & Joh, are currently attending the EMBL Symposium on Cell Biology of the Nucleus.
Movie highlights the dynamic change in nuclear shape.
Find Jessica and Joh in the poster session to know more about our work.
www.ashraflab.com
My students, @jessicaa-orr.bsky.social & Joh, are currently attending the EMBL Symposium on Cell Biology of the Nucleus.
Movie highlights the dynamic change in nuclear shape.
Find Jessica and Joh in the poster session to know more about our work.
www.ashraflab.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:57 PM
🔬🍀
My students, @jessicaa-orr.bsky.social & Joh, are currently attending the EMBL Symposium on Cell Biology of the Nucleus.
Movie highlights the dynamic change in nuclear shape.
Find Jessica and Joh in the poster session to know more about our work.
www.ashraflab.com
My students, @jessicaa-orr.bsky.social & Joh, are currently attending the EMBL Symposium on Cell Biology of the Nucleus.
Movie highlights the dynamic change in nuclear shape.
Find Jessica and Joh in the poster session to know more about our work.
www.ashraflab.com
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Our work on Naegleria Myosin 2 is out!
Naegleria encodes 3 Myo2s which contract its actin network—the first evidence of contractile Myo2 outside of Amorphea.
Myo2 is actually widespread in Naegleria's relatives and correlates with fast cell crawling.
Read more: www.cell.com/current-biol...
Naegleria encodes 3 Myo2s which contract its actin network—the first evidence of contractile Myo2 outside of Amorphea.
Myo2 is actually widespread in Naegleria's relatives and correlates with fast cell crawling.
Read more: www.cell.com/current-biol...
Myosin 2 drives actin contractility in fast-crawling species outside of the amorphean lineage
Myosin 2-dependent actin contractility—the force that powers cell division and migration
in animals, fungi, and other Amorphea—had been previously unknown outside this single
eukaryotic group. Guest e...
www.cell.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Our work on Naegleria Myosin 2 is out!
Naegleria encodes 3 Myo2s which contract its actin network—the first evidence of contractile Myo2 outside of Amorphea.
Myo2 is actually widespread in Naegleria's relatives and correlates with fast cell crawling.
Read more: www.cell.com/current-biol...
Naegleria encodes 3 Myo2s which contract its actin network—the first evidence of contractile Myo2 outside of Amorphea.
Myo2 is actually widespread in Naegleria's relatives and correlates with fast cell crawling.
Read more: www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
We're using XRM to visualize and measure how heat impacts pollination to learn how some soybean flowers tolerate heat stress. This is 3D volume rendering of a single intact soybean flower with an overlay of the stigmatic structure. The pollen-filled anthers are ~200um in diameter.
November 17, 2025 at 4:27 PM
We're using XRM to visualize and measure how heat impacts pollination to learn how some soybean flowers tolerate heat stress. This is 3D volume rendering of a single intact soybean flower with an overlay of the stigmatic structure. The pollen-filled anthers are ~200um in diameter.
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
@plosbiology.org Thanks for the nice highlight of our paper on the website.
November 11, 2025 at 8:30 PM
@plosbiology.org Thanks for the nice highlight of our paper on the website.
🔬🍀
A timelapse movie (unpublished data) from the lab.
In the movie, the nucleus is moving towards the base of the polarized root hair cell.
A timelapse movie (unpublished data) from the lab.
In the movie, the nucleus is moving towards the base of the polarized root hair cell.
November 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
🔬🍀
A timelapse movie (unpublished data) from the lab.
In the movie, the nucleus is moving towards the base of the polarized root hair cell.
A timelapse movie (unpublished data) from the lab.
In the movie, the nucleus is moving towards the base of the polarized root hair cell.
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Check out our new work published in Plant Physiology utilizing an optimized BONCAT approach to understand Arabidopsis protein production!
Outstanding work led by graduate student Nick Hassan.
The work promises exciting new opportunities for plant science!
academic.oup.com/plphys/advan...
Outstanding work led by graduate student Nick Hassan.
The work promises exciting new opportunities for plant science!
academic.oup.com/plphys/advan...
Validate User
academic.oup.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Check out our new work published in Plant Physiology utilizing an optimized BONCAT approach to understand Arabidopsis protein production!
Outstanding work led by graduate student Nick Hassan.
The work promises exciting new opportunities for plant science!
academic.oup.com/plphys/advan...
Outstanding work led by graduate student Nick Hassan.
The work promises exciting new opportunities for plant science!
academic.oup.com/plphys/advan...
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Finally out! We measured mutations in tetraploid potato. Highlights:
- higher mutation rates in L1 than L2
- even higher rates and a distinct oxidative stress signature outside of meristems
- lower mutation rates in genes everywhere we looked
More 👇
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2514507122
- higher mutation rates in L1 than L2
- even higher rates and a distinct oxidative stress signature outside of meristems
- lower mutation rates in genes everywhere we looked
More 👇
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2514507122
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Finally out! We measured mutations in tetraploid potato. Highlights:
- higher mutation rates in L1 than L2
- even higher rates and a distinct oxidative stress signature outside of meristems
- lower mutation rates in genes everywhere we looked
More 👇
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2514507122
- higher mutation rates in L1 than L2
- even higher rates and a distinct oxidative stress signature outside of meristems
- lower mutation rates in genes everywhere we looked
More 👇
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2514507122
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Diversification in environmental responses enabled by duplicated grass stomatal regulator SPCH
Erberich et al. @stanfordstomata@bluesky
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/TPBU7P...
Erberich et al. @stanfordstomata@bluesky
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/TPBU7P...
November 10, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Diversification in environmental responses enabled by duplicated grass stomatal regulator SPCH
Erberich et al. @stanfordstomata@bluesky
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/TPBU7P...
Erberich et al. @stanfordstomata@bluesky
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/TPBU7P...
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Ru Zhang, PhD, will lead a team of scientists in a new NSF-funded project that aims to find out how plant cells retain memory of heat stress.
Learn how their work could help future crops adapt to heat: https://loom.ly/F214Eco
Learn how their work could help future crops adapt to heat: https://loom.ly/F214Eco
Collaborative Research Team to Uncover How Plants “Remember” and Adapt to Heat Stress - Danforth Plant Science Center
A new collaborative research team of plant scientists led by Ru Zhang, PhD, associate member, Danforth Plant Science Center has been awarded new funding from the National Science Foundation to investigate how photosynthetic cells retain “heat stress memory” (HSM), a key adaptive mechanism that could help future crops withstand intense and frequent heat waves.
www.danforthcenter.org
November 10, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Ru Zhang, PhD, will lead a team of scientists in a new NSF-funded project that aims to find out how plant cells retain memory of heat stress.
Learn how their work could help future crops adapt to heat: https://loom.ly/F214Eco
Learn how their work could help future crops adapt to heat: https://loom.ly/F214Eco
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
We are pleased to announce that @tatsuyanobori.bsky.social has won the Young Investigator Award by the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists.
The award ceremony and the recipient's lecture will take place at the next Tokyo Annual Meeting on 14 March 2026.
buff.ly/pemelQu
The award ceremony and the recipient's lecture will take place at the next Tokyo Annual Meeting on 14 March 2026.
buff.ly/pemelQu
November 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
We are pleased to announce that @tatsuyanobori.bsky.social has won the Young Investigator Award by the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists.
The award ceremony and the recipient's lecture will take place at the next Tokyo Annual Meeting on 14 March 2026.
buff.ly/pemelQu
The award ceremony and the recipient's lecture will take place at the next Tokyo Annual Meeting on 14 March 2026.
buff.ly/pemelQu
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Also happy to say that Arabidopsis epidermal cells make the cover of @theplantjournal.bsky.social for the issue with our paper, showing that nitrate availability impacts pectin metabolism and cell wall mechanics for growth 🌱
Check the work here 👉 doi.org/10.1111/tpj....
Check the work here 👉 doi.org/10.1111/tpj....
November 7, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Also happy to say that Arabidopsis epidermal cells make the cover of @theplantjournal.bsky.social for the issue with our paper, showing that nitrate availability impacts pectin metabolism and cell wall mechanics for growth 🌱
Check the work here 👉 doi.org/10.1111/tpj....
Check the work here 👉 doi.org/10.1111/tpj....
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Our new review in Science @science.org is out with @jennyrussinova.bsky.social and @nvukas.bsky.social. We discuss how precise modulation of brassinosteroid signaling can enable more targeted, predictable improvements in plant growth and resilience.
science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adu9798
science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adu9798
November 7, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Our new review in Science @science.org is out with @jennyrussinova.bsky.social and @nvukas.bsky.social. We discuss how precise modulation of brassinosteroid signaling can enable more targeted, predictable improvements in plant growth and resilience.
science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adu9798
science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adu9798
Reposted by Arif Ashraf
Check out this new paper on the Arabidopsis MLS8 channel and its importance for oscillatory growth
and cell wall dynamics in pollen tubes!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
and cell wall dynamics in pollen tubes!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Mechanosensitive ion channel MSL8 is required for oscillatory growth and cell wall dynamics in Arabidopsis pollen tubes - Plant Reproduction
The male gametophyte in flowering plants, pollen, both performs the critical role of fertilization and represents a unique and accessible system for interrogating plant cell mechanics. A key component...
link.springer.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Check out this new paper on the Arabidopsis MLS8 channel and its importance for oscillatory growth
and cell wall dynamics in pollen tubes!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
and cell wall dynamics in pollen tubes!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...