Two Danforth Center Scientists Earn National Honors from American Society of Plant Biologists
The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) honored Dr. Tessa Burch-Smith with its Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award and named Dr. Sona Pandey a Fellow of ASPB.
ST. LOUIS, MO (July 23, 2026)— Two Donald Danforth Plant Science Center scientists were honored by the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) at the organization's annual Plant Biology meeting, held July 18 to 22 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Principal Investigator Dr. Sona Pandey was named a 2026 Fellow of ASPB, and Principal Investigator Dr. Tessa Burch-Smith received the 2026 Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award.
Dr. Sona Pandey: Fellow of ASPB
Established in 2007, the Fellow of ASPB Award recognizes current members for distinguished, long-term contributions to plant biology and direct service to the Society, spanning research, education, mentoring, outreach, and professional and public service.
Pandey is a globally recognized leader in plant heterotrimeric G-protein signaling. She leads a program that spans model and crop systems, connecting fundamental discoveries with real-world agricultural applications. Another aspect of her work examines the role of mosses in shaping the global carbon cycle and what these unique organisms can teach us about plants' colonization of land and the adaptations that ultimately shaped the planet as we know it.
Pandey's contributions reach well beyond her research. For more than 12 years she directed an NSF-funded undergraduate research program, providing hands-on training to a generation of future scientists. She was named one of the "25 Inspiring Women in Plant Biology" in 2024, and she has served ASPB as a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee (past), and Constitution and Bylaws Committee (current), an organizer, session chair, workshop leader, and invited speaker, as well as a reviewer for the Society's journals Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell.
“Some of the most meaningful work of my career has been helping young scientists find their footing," said Pandey. "To be recognized by the society that shaped so much of my own path is a great honor, and I hope it encourages more people to see a place for themselves in plant science."
Dr. Tessa Burch-Smith: Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
The Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award is a biennial honor, first presented in 2022, that recognizes an ASPB member with a strong record of advancing diversity and inclusiveness across plant biology through mentoring, support, and advocacy for individuals from underrepresented communities.
Burch-Smith is the Danforth Center’s Director of Research in Food Security. Her research examines how plants move molecules between plant cells to coordinate growth, development, and responses to the environment. Her lab also studies plant-virus interactions with the long-term aim of protecting crops from viral disease.
At the Danforth Center, Burch-Smith co-leads the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. Her work to expand opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing students to take part fully in research drew particular recognition from the award committee, alongside her mentorship and service to the plant biology community. She currently serves as ASPB's president-elect and will lead the Society in the year ahead.
"Science is stronger when more people participate and contribute," said Burch-Smith. "I am grateful to my colleagues and my mentees, and especially to the students who have shown what becomes possible when we remove barriers rather than accept them. This recognition belongs to all of them, and it points to the work still ahead."
Solving Global Challenges
The Danforth Center is solving global challenges in food security and sustainability. Recognizing and cultivating talent from varied backgrounds improves the work we do by bringing a variety of perspectives to the cutting edge. This is why the Center invests in programs like the REU and long-running mentorship initiatives that open plant science to students who might not otherwise find a path into the field.
"I couldn't be prouder to work alongside Sona and Tessa," said Dr. Giles Oldroyd, president of the Danforth Center. “Sona has spent decades dissecting plant signaling, while training the next generation of plant scientists. Tessa has opened doors in this field for students who might not otherwise have had a path into research. Warm congratulations to them both on this recognition—it's well-deserved and reflects the kind of talent and character we're lucky to have at the Danforth Center."
The full list of 2026 ASPB award recipients is available at aspb.org.
About the Danforth Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is the largest independent nonprofit dedicated to plant science in the world. With a mission to improve the human condition through plant science, the Center conducts plant science research to feed people and improve human health, preserve and renew the environment, and innovate for economic development in the US and around the world. For more information, visit danforthcenter.org.
Media Contact: Kristina DeYong | Public Information Officer, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center | kdeyong@danforthcenter.org