Program Results

Introduction to the event

I. Research Overview:

During the first year of the Yushan Young Scholar Program, Dr. Wei Siao established the ‘‘Plant Cell Biology and Behavior Laboratory’’ at the Institute of Plant Biology, National Taiwan University, undertaking both academic research and the training of young scientists. The main research objectives were: 1) To elucidate the mechanisms by which plant endocytosis contributes to hydrotropic and thigmotropic responses in roots. 2) To identify novel regulatory factors of endocytosis and vesicle trafficking. Through these two research directions, the project aims to enhance our understanding of how plants avoid and adapt to drought and compact soils, as well as to uncover how plant cells perceive and process external signals. The knowledge gained will provide valuable insights for crop improvement and optimization of cultivation practices.

Tasks and progress accomplished during the first year included: establishing the laboratory, acquiring research equipment, setting up experimental methods and workflows, training researchers and graduate students, conducting experiments and data analysis, presenting research at international conferences, and initiating domestic and international collaborations.

II. Research Achievements:

1.One conference paper was produced.

2.Delivered four invited talks at Academia Sinica and various universities.

3.Participated in two international conferences and one domestic conference, presenting posters and engaging in academic exchange.

4.Reviewed six manuscripts for international journals, including Plant and Cell Physiology, Journal of Experimental Botany, Plant Science, Scientific Reports, Plant Signaling and Behavior, and Taiwania.

5.From August 2024 to July 2025, supervised one postdoctoral researcher and one master’s student. The postdoc’s research results were presented at an international conference (Fig. 1).

III. Teaching Achievements:

1.Participated in teaching nine undergraduate courses and seven graduate-level courses, including: Advanced Topics in Plant Science, Advanced Plant Molecular Biology, Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology Laboratory, Trends in Plant Science, Green Biotechnology, Methods in Plant Molecular Biology Research, Seminars, and Group Discussion.

2.Served as an oral defense committee member and thesis reviewer for three master’s theses.

3.Invited by the Gifted Science Program of GuangWu Junior High School in Hsinchu City to mentor students for the National Science Fair (Fig. 2).

圖1、於國際研討會International Conference on Arabidopsis Research 2025 (ICAR2025)進行學術報告及交流。

圖2、參與指導國中生生物組全國科展。