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New METRIC Satellite Facility to Support Next-Generation Plant Sciences Research

N.C. PSI News

Families gather at a table with plants as they take part in a pre-pandemic Plant Biology for Kids event.

Jun 16, 2021

Cultivating Curiosity and the Next Generation of Plant Scientists

Colleagues Terri Long and Anna Stepanova are part of a national push to highlight plants’ contributions to our lives and the potential for rewarding careers in plant sciences. 
NC Cotton Producers Association logo

Jun 14, 2021

Partner Profile: North Carolina Cotton Producers Association

Cotton is a major cash crop for North Carolina, accounting for close to $300 million of the state’s economy and 15,000 jobs. The North Carolina Cotton Producers Association strives to improve the welfare of cotton farmers by supporting best practices for production and encouraging research to better cotton and its products. That’s a key reason why they became an early supporter of N.C. PSI. 
A diseased leaf

Jun 11, 2021

Irish Potato Famine Pathogen Stoked Outbreaks on Six Continents

NC State researchers track the evolution of pathogen that causes late-blight disease in potatoes and tomatoes. 
A weed with roots displayed

Jun 9, 2021

How You Can Help Stop a Plant Pest

Farmers and gardeners can help root out a new nematode that spreads aggressively in North Carolina vegetable crops. 
drone trials in a field

Jun 4, 2021

Bridging the Big Data Divide

Unprecedented amounts of agricultural data have been collected from satellites, drones, underground sensors, and all forms of machinery, but few people can use this data to its maximum potential. The new and innovative Ag Data Science Certificate course is training students to meet the high demand for data science expertise in agriculture. 
Exterior of Plant Sciences Building under construction

May 28, 2021

Pushing the Energy Efficiency Envelope

The NC State Plant Sciences Building, North Carolina’s new hub for next-generation research in the plant sciences, is now a nationally recognized hub for energy efficiency. The building has been named an awardee in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Building Envelope Campaign for the energy efficiency of its envelope, or exterior, which was designed to exceed efficiency by 20% over code using emerging high-performance envelope technologies. 
A corn leaf with curled black edges indicative of phosphorus deficiency

May 27, 2021

Rellán-Álvarez Receives DOE Early Career Research Funding

Rubén Rellán-Álvarez, a professor in the Department of Molecular and structural Biochemistry was awarded the funding for his research on plant adaptation to abiotic stresses. 
Shuijin Hu in lab with Sean Bloszies, a postdoctoral researcher

May 26, 2021

Faculty Focus: Shuijin Hu Breaks Ground with Soils and Climate Change Research

Learn more about the influential researcher who’s being honored for career contributions to the science of ecology. 
N.C. PSI Launch Director Stephen Briggs at a podium

May 6, 2021

Launch Director’s Report: Momentum is Building

With spring winding down and summer approaching, N.C. PSI has a lot of positive momentum. We are putting in place the leadership we need to be successful, including a resumed search for our executive director, and construction for the Plant Sciences Building is still on time and on budget. 
Students conduct research in METRIC’s Dabney facility

May 6, 2021

New METRIC Satellite Facility to Support Next-Generation Plant Sciences Research

The Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center (METRIC) will open a satellite Core facility in the new NC Plant Sciences Building. The new facility is tentatively scheduled for opening in April 2022 and will be home to state-of-the-art instruments that can even detect how plants communicate. METRIC will occupy one of three Core facility…