Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences awarded The Ohio State University a $1.33 million Project Grant under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) effective September 1, 2026, with completion targeted for August 31, 2031. This CAREER award supports fundamental research investigating biomolecular condensates—dynamic, membrane-less subcellular compartments—and their role in plant stress adaptation. The research will focus on a newly discovered class of condensates containing guanylate-binding-protein like (GBPL) GTPase family proteins in the model plant Arabidopsis, with the objective of determining how these molecular assemblies enable plants to respond to environmental challenges including infection, physical stress, and elevated temperatures.

The deliverables from this award encompass peer-reviewed research findings, experimental tools and datasets, and educational outcomes. Specific research products will include mechanistic insights into how GBPL-containing condensates coordinate plant stress responses across multiple environmental stressors. The project will also generate shared data and analytical tools for the broader research community and develop an integrated educational curriculum spanning plant biology, biophysics, genomics, and artificial intelligence (AI) for undergraduate and graduate students. Dissemination activities will target both academic audiences and the public, with findings intended to inform future biotechnology strategies for enhancing crop resilience under variable environmental conditions, thereby supporting national agricultural productivity and food security objectives.