Sarah M. Assmann

Sarah M. Assmann is the Waller Professor of Biology at the Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University. She is affiliated with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. Her research focuses on plant electrophysiology, cell signaling, and abiotic stress responses, particularly in guard cell function and G-protein signaling pathways. She leads projects aimed at improving crop resilience through genetic and environmental studies in rice and Arabidopsis.

Research Interests: Dr. Assmann investigates how plants perceive and respond to environmental stresses like drought and heat. Key areas include guard cell signaling, heterotrimeric G-protein regulation, and RNA structure-function relationships. Her work integrates molecular, physiological, and systems biology approaches.

Grants & Projects:

• NIFA-USDA 2019-67013-29234: Rice G-protein signaling for drought tolerance
• NIH-R01GM126079: G-protein phosphorylation mechanisms
• NSF-MCB 1715826: G-protein networks in stomatal closure

Labs & Teams: The Assmann Lab focuses on plant stress biology, employing advanced techniques like Structure-seq for RNA structural analysis. Collaborations include interdisciplinary teams addressing crop improvement and environmental adaptation.