We asked our 2026 ASPB Midwest Section Meeting speakers to answer some questions so you can get to know them better. Here are their answers:
Michelle (Hongqing) Guo, Iowa State University
What’s your favorite non-science activity and why?
My favorite non-science activity is playing badminton. We have a great student-run badminton club on the Iowa State University campus. Playing badminton is not only a nice way to channel one’s competitive spirit but also a great way to catch up with old friends, make new friends, and build community.
Everyone has a unique career journey. What are some of the things that make yours unique?
I have taken a very untraditional career path. I came to the US after I received my BS in Biology and MS in Plant Biology in China, to pursue graduate studies. I had to put that on hold after our children came along and started to work as a senior associate scientist in the R&D sector of a pharmaceutical company. When our younger one was starting high school, I started the PhD program in Genetics and Genomics at Iowa State University. Sitting in classrooms with students of half my age was definitely a highlight in my graduate career. I received my PhD in 2019 and started my own lab in 2022. I have enjoyed every single stage of my untraditional career, and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to experience the different dynamics in industry and academic settings.
What motivates you to do your science?
In our lab, we try to understand how receptor kinase signaling pathway balances plant growth and stress responses. Our overarching goal is to contribute to the understanding on how plants respond to climate change and how we can help plants stay healthy and productive. I think what motivates me on a daily basis is my curiosity. Trying to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying a receptor kinase signaling pathway is like putting 1000 puzzle pieces together, challenging yet extremely rewarding. Moreover, mentoring students and postdocs to prepare the next generation of scientists is also something I’m really passionate about.
Shuai Huang, The Ohio State University
What’s your favorite non-science activity and why?
I enjoy listening to classical music, which always touches my soul; and reading about cosmology to appreciate the scale and beauty of the universe.
Everyone has a unique career journey. What are some of the things that make yours unique?
I never set out to be a scientist, I originally wanted to study rockets and stars, but after not doing well on a key exam, I ended up in biology. I then discovered that I genuinely love biology and stayed.
What motivates you to do your science?
The thrill of seeing something for the first time.
Rose Anna Marks, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
What’s your favorite non-science activity and why?
Outside of science, rock climbing has been my go-to activity for nearly 15 years. It has taken me on countless adventures all over the world, and shaped how I think about risk, resilience, and problem-solving. It’s also been a powerful way for me to connect with landscapes and people in a very tangible, embodied way.
Everyone has a unique career journey. What are some of the things that make yours unique?
My career path has been anything but linear. Before returning to academia, I worked on farms and bakeries. Those experiences shaped how I think about systems, efficiency, and work ethic and ultimately led me back to graduate school with a much clearer sense of purpose. Over time, I’ve been able to join my love of adventure and climbing with my scientific work, studying plants that grow on cliffs and in other extreme environments where resilience is built into life.
What motivates you to do your science?
I’m motivated by curiosity, exploration, and a desire to bring more people (especially young scientists) into nature. I see science as a creative, adventurous process, and I’m passionate about sharing that sense of wonder and possibility, particularly for students who may not initially see themselves reflected in traditional scientific spaces.
Craig Schenck, University of Missouri
What is your favorite thing about living and working in the Midwest?
I love the small college town feel that you find across much of the Midwest. I’ve been in various college towns over the last 20 years and love the community, the academic environment, and the unique places to visit, also the lack of traffic is a big plus.
Everyone has a unique career journey. What are some of the things that make yours unique?
Directly after undergraduate, I didn’t have a clear idea of what was next. I decided that graduate school might be a good idea, so I applied to a few PhD programs and was denied by them all. I was devastated. But my undergraduate research advisor at the time suggested that I stay in her lab and do a Master’s degree and figure out what would be next in those years. That turned out to be great advice, as I was able to finish my Master’s degree and meet my future PhD advisor at an ASPB Midwest conference at Purdue. If it weren’t for my advisor and going to regional meetings like ASPB Midwest, I’m certain I wouldn’t currently be a faculty member.
What motivates you to do your science?
I’m excited how our basic discoveries in plants might shed light on fundamental discoveries across all domains of life and even inform human health and disease. The mentorship of undergraduates, graduates, and postdocs motivates me to give them the best opportunities I can and set them up for success in the future.
Daniela Strenkert, Michigan State University
What is your favorite thing about living and working in the Midwest?
Affordability and interactions with folks at all levels. People are very open and supportive.
Everyone has a unique career journey. What are some of the things that make yours unique?
Deciding to do a postdoc in the United States as a German citizen was planned – staying longer was not. But the vibrant scientific community in the Bay Area and vast opportunities changed my mind.
What projects are you excited about working on in the future?
To assess how the environment shapes photosynthetic life and vice versa, with a focus on how genetic programs are established to fine-tune metabolism in response to environmental changes like resource limitation. Using a tractable, single celled eukaryotic green algae for these studies will be efficient enough to make fast research progress, while informing plant breeding efforts for more resilient crops.
Dong Xu, University of Missouri
What’s your favorite non-science activity and why?
My favorite non-science activity is playing ping-pong. It’s a great form of exercise and very good for my health. Playing ping-pong keeps me energetic and focused, and it also provides an opportunity to interact with friends from diverse backgrounds. I find it especially relaxing and it helps clear my mind and allows me to think more clearly when I return to scientific problems.
Everyone has a unique career journey. What are some of the things that make yours unique?
What makes mine relatively unique is the breadth and interdisciplinarity of my research path. I applied a broad range of machine learning methods and other computational algorithms across diverse domains. My work spans plants, human diseases, and microbial systems, and reaches even beyond biological applications.
What motivates you to do your science?
I’m motivated to do science by both personal passion and a belief in its impact on society. To me, scientific research feels like traveling; each project brings me to new places, revealing fascinating and unexpected discoveries, especially in biology, which is never boring. Science and technology drive modern life, from food production to healthcare, and contributing to that progress inspires me to keep exploring and innovating.