Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · 11d

A massive congratulations to @tinaschreier.bsky.social for being awarded an ERC Starting Grant!! Exciting news for the photosynthesis world. Best of luck to you, Tina! 🍃🥼

Read more here: www.biology.ox.ac.uk/article/dr-t...

Dr Tina Schreier awarded ERC Starting Grant

www.biology.ox.ac.uk

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso @yoselin.bsky.social · 13d

About 10 tickets left. register today and be part of the @blackinplantsci.bsky.social community
Registration closes this week. blackinplantscience.org/bips-confere...

BiPS Conference 2025 Registration – Black in Plant Science

blackinplantscience.org

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

Priya Jaiswal @priya8592.bsky.social · 18d

Had an amazing time at PEPG Workshop 2025 in Lisbon! It was great to gain hands-on experience in plant physiology techniques including chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange. Grateful to @sebiology.bsky.social and #PEPG for the opportunity to learn and connect with such a brilliant community!”

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

Priya Jaiswal @priya8592.bsky.social · 18d

Thrilled to join the #JXB75 Symposium, marking the 75th anniversary of the @jxbotany.bsky.social , founded by @sebiology.bsky.social

The meeting opened with workshops on manuscript prep & publication ethics, followed by talks on plant science spanning beginning to future!

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Aug 4

Check out our recent pre-print which identifies the role of the first stromal residue involved in PsbS’ NPQ function!

We found mutating the c-term b-strand reduced induction but increased relaxation ☀️ 🌿

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Mutation of a stromal C-terminal threonine residue of Photosystem II subunit S slows down NPQ induction and speeds up relaxation

In order to prevent damage by excess light, photosystem antennae can switch to an energy dissipative mode (termed non-photochemical quenching, NPQ). In higher plants, this switch is facilitated by the...

www.biorxiv.org

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Aug 1

Welcome Anna! Excited to have you as part of the team 🌿🥼

Anna Lee Jones @annaleejones.bsky.social · Jul 7

Excited to share I have joined the Kromdijk lab (@plantphys-cam.bsky.social) in Cambridge as a postdoc working on the spectral responses of peatland vegetation to thermal stress. Part of an interdisciplinary project with Super Sharp 🛰️

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

Pallavi Singh @thepallavisingh.bsky.social · Jul 23

Exciting times @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social

Glad to be awarded the Opportunity Seed Funds by @aria-research.bsky.social for our Mistletoe research on
“PlantPlug: Bioengineering Parasitic Plants into Programmable Modules”

Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) @aria-research.bsky.social · Jul 23

From landmine-clearing plants to leveraging stochasticity in synthetic biology, discover the opportunity seeds we’re funding in Programmable Plants 🌱 link.aria.org.uk/PPoppseeds

Programmable Plants opportunity seeds

Programmable plants could secure our future on Earth, providing not just food, but a sustainable and thriving biosphere for future generations. We're offering up to £500k for proposals in this area.

link.aria.org.uk

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

Leonie Luginbuehl @lluginbuehl.bsky.social · May 4

Join our group (www.luginbuehllab.com) at @camplantsci.bsky.social! Are you excited about mycorrhiza, (single-cell) transcriptomics, carbon physiology, and the model crop rice? We have a 2-year postdoc position available, starting ASAP. Closing date 23rd May 2025!

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/51214/

Research Assistant / Research Associate (Fixed Term) - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge

Research Assistant / Research Associate (Fixed Term) in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge.

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Apr 30

Great new article on our work on the Cambridge plant sciences website! Have a read! 🌽☀️

Department of Plant Sciences Cambridge @camplantsci.bsky.social · Apr 30

A new study from @plantphys-cam.bsky.social has found new genetic factors behind photosynthesis in maize - offering a valuable new approach to improving crop productivity.

www.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/news/study-u...

@cambridgebiosci.bsky.social
@cambridgeuni.bsky.social

Maize field trials at Niab as part of the CAPITALISE research. Photo credit: John Ferguson.

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

SEBiology @sebiology.bsky.social · Apr 28

Early bird deadline is fast approaching (16/05)

Join Johannes at the #SEBconference in Antwerp.

Book your place now ⬇️
sebiology.org/events/seb-a...

Check out our plant sessions ⬇️
sebiology.org/events/seb-a...

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

Andrew Leakey - lab.igb.illinois.edu/leakey/ @leakey77.bsky.social · Apr 24

please share - 2 postdoc positions available - molecular physiology of stomata and plant water use of efficiency
lab.igb.illinois.edu/leakey/post-... @ripeproject.bsky.social @aspbofficial.bsky.social

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

Black In Plant Science- UK @blackinplantsci.bsky.social · Apr 24

If you haven't already - make sure to save the date to the Black in Plant Science Conference taking place on Friday 24 October at the University of Leeds. Registration will soon be opening so make sure to save the date to avoid disappointment.

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Apr 24

Wanne has co-authored a paper on the EPS2 conference last year that was held in Padova 🇮🇹🍝

Four of us were able to attend and hear great talks about all things photosynthesis. It was really great to share our data with the photosynthesis world! ☀️🍃

Find the paper here:

doi.org/10.1111/ppl....

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

Tina Schreier @tinaschreier.bsky.social · Apr 22

🌿 Excited to share our latest preprint!
We tracked how plasmodesmata numbers evolved across the path from C₃ → C₄ photosynthesis in Flaveria - and found a stepwise increase in cell-to-cell connectivity.
Thoughts or feedback are most welcome 😊
#PlantScience

bioRxiv Plant Bio @biorxiv-plants.bsky.social · Apr 22

Stepwise increase in plasmodesmata during C4 evolution in Flaveria https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.18.649591v1

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Apr 23

Wild relatives of crop species provide untapped genetic potential for ecological resilience. We looked at 320 wild relatives of Barley and combined physiology experiments with GWAS data to determine variation in light capture and photoprotection 🌾🧬📊🌱 check it out here!
doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Extensive photophysiological variation in wild barley is linked to environmental origin

### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Apr 22

The whole lab has been busy today tidying and cleaning our lab space 🧪🧼🫧🥼
Luckily this is all made easier with pizza for lunch! Also welcome to Eva, our new PhD student who started today! 🍕

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Apr 14

Great opportunity to join the wonderful plant biologists at @lancasterplantbio.bsky.social and work on Rubisco biochemistry and engineering 🥼🧪🌱☀️

Doug Orr @doug-orr.bsky.social · Apr 9

This post is now online, for full details on how to apply please see: wp.lancs.ac.uk/lancsphotosy...

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

Jake Harris @c-jake-harris.bsky.social · Apr 10

And a 3 year tech position is also now live. Synthetic biology project funded by the Advanced Research + Innovation Agency (ARIA). Please apply / RP! www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/51027/
@camplantsci.bsky.social

Research Laboratory Technician (Fixed Term) - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge

Research Laboratory Technician (Fixed Term) in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge.

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Apr 11

Have you ever wondered about NPQ in C4 plants? ☀️🪴 Check out the recent pre-print from Lucìa who used to be a PhD student/post-doc in our lab and now works for the @ripeproject.bsky.social in Illinois. She shows that C4 plants have faster NPQ than related C3 plants.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Faster relaxation of nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) in C4 than in C3 species

Acceleration of photoprotective non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) responses to changes in light intensity has been suggested as a strategy to enhance crop yield. Despite many key crops utilising C4 ph...

eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

The Plant Cell @theplantcell.bsky.social · Apr 1

A deficient CP24 allele defines variation for dynamic non-photochemical quenching and photosystem II efficiency in maize (John N Ferguson, Leonardo Caproni, Julia Walter, Katie Shaw, Lucia Arce-Cubas, et. al.) academic.oup.com/plcell/advan... #PlantScience

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Apr 7

Happy to share the publication of our recent work on the identification of CP24 as a determinant of variation in NPQ and PSII efficiency in maize 🌽☀️.

This paper involved a massive team effort in the lab and collaboration with colleagues at @essexuni.bsky.social 🧬🧪

tinyurl.com/yn7hwjyk

A deficient CP24 allele defines variation for dynamic non-photochemical quenching and photosystem II efficiency in maize

High throughput phenotyping of a maize multi-founder mapping population reveals genetic factors controlling dynamic photoprotection and photosystem II effi

tinyurl.com

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Reposted by Kromdijk Lab

Department of Plant Sciences Cambridge @camplantsci.bsky.social · Mar 31

New paper from Georgia Taylor et al. @plantphys-cam.bsky.social on the role of hydrogen peroxide in coordinating photosynthesis with stomatal opening:

doi.org/10.1101/2025...

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Mar 28

She shows that when hydrogen peroxide scavenging is compromised in mutants, stomatal opening is increased but can be rescued by H202 production derived from plastoquinol.

Pre-print can be found on @biorxiv-plants.bsky.social

biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Chloroplast-derived hydrogen peroxide coordinates photosynthesis with stomatal opening

Stomatal pores on plant leaves control the entry point of carbon into the terrestrial biosphere and concomitant release of water vapour into the atmosphere. Stomatal aperture changes need to be coordi...

biorxiv.org

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Mar 28

Check out our postdoc Georgia's new paper on the role of hydrogen peroxide in coordinating photosynthesis with stomatal opening 🌱

In it she shows that chloroplast-derived hydrogen peroxide coordinates stomatal conductance and that this signal predominantly arises from the guard cells.

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Kromdijk Lab @plantphys-cam.bsky.social · Mar 27

It's a great opportunity to learn more about this sub-saharan crop and to develop novel genetic resources for crop improvement.

Applications close on the 22nd April. More info here: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/50814/ @camplantsci.bsky.social

#plantsciences #plantsciencesjobs #research #cambridge

Research Laboratory Technician (Fixed Term) - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge

Research Laboratory Technician (Fixed Term) in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge.

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk

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