Interactions

The National Academy of Sciences recently honored Sharon Long, Stanford University, by awarding her the 2019 Selman A. Waksman Award​, which recognizes a major advance in the field of Microbiology. This award honors Sharon Long’s tremendous contributions to our understanding of the symbiotic interactions that lead to nitrogen-fixing legume root nodules. Her extensive body of work has moved the field of plant-microbe interactions forward, revealing a nuanced molecular dialogue between rhizobia and host that allow the bacteria to penetrate not only the root, but also root cells, where the metabolism of the two hosts becomes intertwined, resulting in a nutritional symbiosis.

In addition to consistently identifying and articulating core questions, Sharon leads by example, building a strong lab group, fostering a rigorous and collaborative environment that stimulates creativity and encourages development of a critical eye, holding herself to the highest ethical standards, and writing papers that clearly display the logic and reasoning behind the experiments. Sharon has been an outstanding mentor and advisor and a wonderful colleague. Congratulations, Sharon!