Profile
Dianne Pater is a doctoral candidate in the Division of Biological Sciences at University of California, San Diego. Under the mentorship of Dr. Julian Schroeder, Dianne studies how plants respond to environmental stresses at a molecular and whole plant level. Her dissertation work examines natural variations in the crop plant Brassica napus that can be used to identify water use efficient accessions. By examining whole plant physiology, her research has demonstrated the use of stable carbon isotope measurements to screen for water use efficiency in diverse variants within the species, and has identified accessions with high maximum carboxylation rates that translate into higher photosynthetic carbon assimilation. This research adds to tools that plant breeders and scientists can use to identify crops that will perform well under drought or other environmental stresses. In addition to her research, Dianne has been active within the community as a member of the Division of Biological Sciences Diversity Committee, representing UCSD at conferences such as SACNAS and ABRCMS. Her dedication to teaching excellence has been recognized through her work as a Graduate Teaching Mentor and receiving her department’s TA Excellence Award. She will begin a position as a Consortium for Faculty Diversity Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor at Amherst College, beginning in Fall 2017.
