Li-COR Prize - Physiological and Ecophysiological


2023 Li-COR prizes

Best Student Oral Presentations
Spencer Roop, Idaho State University, For the Presentation: Quantifying genetic variation in physiology and functional traits in subspecies of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) in a common garden setting. Co-authors: Keith Reinhardt, Matthew Germino, Bryce Richardson

Best Student Poster
Leigha Henson, Appalachian State University, For the Poster: Light and Moisture Content as Determinants of Photosynthetic Activity in Southern Appalachian Mosses from Open and Shaded Habitats. Co-author: Howard Neufeld

2022 Li-COR prizes 

Best Student Oral Presentations
Claudia Garnica Diaz
, University of Florida, For the Presentation: Intra-canopy leaf variation in deciduous oaks (genus Quercus): from leaf construction to energy return Co-Authors: Siddarth Machado, Raiza Castillo-Argaez, Nicholas Ash Smith, Daniel J. Johnson, Grace Patricia John

Ana Flores, University of Hawaii at Manoa, For the Presentation: Trait Variation as Plants Grow Up: Simultaneous Effects of Ontogeny and Phenotypic Plasticity. Co-author: Kasey Barton


Best Student Poster
Jordyn Regier
, Pepperdine University, For the Presentation: Substrate Type Affects the Drying Speed and Desiccation Tolerance of Fern Gametophytes. Co-Authors: Mayra Hernandez, Camille Kilayko Sicangco, Stephen Davis, Helen Holmlund


2021 Li-COR prizes 

Best Student Oral Presentation
Haley Branch, University of British Columbia, for the Presentation: Historical differences in climate between populations alter responses to severe stress. Co-authors: Dylan R. Moxley, and Amy L. Angert

Best Student Poster
Myriam “Mimi" Serrano, San Francisco State University, for the Presentation: Tracking Leaf Trait Differentiation of Newly Diverging Subspecies of Chenopodium oahuense on the Hawaiian Islands. Co-authors: Jason Cantley, and Kevin A. Simonin


2020 Li-COR prize, presentation 
(This year the Physiological Section awarded just one award for the combined Best Oral Paper & the Li-COR prize.)

Anna Jiselle Ongjoco, California State Polytecnic University, Ponoma, for the Presentation: Strategies Utilized by Pinus coulteri and Pinus attenuata for Surviving at Low Elevations in the San Bernardino Mountains. Co-authors: Edward G. Bobich, Frank E. Ewers, and Erin J. Questad


2019 Li-COR prize, presentation 

Lauren Tucker and Amanda Salvi tied for the LI-COR Prize for an Oral Paper

Laurent Tucker presentation: Recovery of California black walnut trees following drought induced dieback. Co-authors: Frank Ewers, Stephen Davis, Edward Bobich

Amanda Salvi presentation: Mesophyll photosynthetic sensitivity to leaf water potential increases in Eucalyptus species native to moister Australian climates: a new dimension of plant adaptation to drought. Co-authors: Duncan D. Smith, Kate McCulloh, Thomas Givnish


2018 Li-COR prize, presentation - Timothy Perez


2017 Li-COR prize, presentationTayler J Kriss, Fort Hays State University - Advisor, Dr. Brian Maricle, for the poster “Photosynthetic action spectra of etiolated beans during greening” Co-author: Brian Maricle


2016 Li-COR prize, presentationChristina Hilt, Fort Hays State University - Advisor, Dr. Brian Maricle, for the poster “Does environment or genetics influence leaf level physiology? Measuring photosynthetic rates of native big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grown in common gardens across a precipitation gradient” Co-authors: Christina Hilt, Cera Smart, Adam Urban, Diedre Kramer, Nicole Martin, Sara Baer, Loretta Johnson and Brian Maricle


2015 Li-COR prize, presentation - (Paper) Kerri Mocko, University Of Connecticut, for the paper “Stomatal behavior and integration of functional traits are consistent with climate of origin for co-occurring congeners” Co-author: Cynthia Jones

(Poster) John A. Huber, Brigham Young University, for the poster “Exploring the possibility of photosynthetic plasticity in Agave sensu lato” Co-author: J. Ryan Stewart



2014 Li-COR prize, presentation
Christina Hilt, Fort Hays State University - Advisor, Dr. Brian Maricle, for the poster “Physiological responses of grasses to drought and flooding treatments” Co-author: Brian Maricle



2013 Li-COR prize, presentation
- Samuel Del Rio, California State University - Bakersfield, for the paper “Hydraulic conductance is coordinated at the leaf and stem levels among chaparral shrubs” Co-authors: Christine Hluza, Evan D. MacKinnon, Jeffrey Parker and R. Pratt


2012 Li-COR prize, presentation - Matthew Ogburn, Brown University - Advisor, Dr. Erica Edwards, for the paper “Anatomy of leaf succulence in the clade Portulacineae + Molluginaceae: evolutionary jumps into novel phenotypic space” Co-author: Erica Edwards

2012 Li-COR prize, poster - Robert “Berto” Griffin-Nolan, Ithaca College - Advisor, Dr. Peter Melcher, for the paper “The role of green light in photosynthesis in Bryophytes and higher plants” Co-authors: Peter Melcher and Benjamin Rosen


2011 Li-COR prize, presentation - Alexander J. Eilts, University of Minnesota, for the talk “An early look at the transport of mineral resources inthe clonal forb Fragaria vesca L.."

2011 Li-COR prize, poster - Mitchell Hall, Frostburg State University, for the poster “The effectiveness of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) modified with a Hessian fly-responsive(Hfr) gene against phloem-feeding and chewing insects." Co-authors: Sunshine Brosi and David Puthoff.


2010 Li-COR prize - Mark E. De Guzman, California State University, Bakersfield, for the talk “Leaf and canopy level carbon assimilation rates of post-fire resprouting chaparral shrub species that display different life history types." Co-authors: M.F. Tobin, A. L. Jacobsen, H. P. O'Mara and R. B. Pratt.


2009 Li-COR prize - Nicholas E. Buckley, University of Tennessee, for the talk “Tradeoffs between growth and reproduction in the dioecious shrub Ilex glabra." Co-author: G. Avila-Sakar.


2008 Li-COR prize - Uromi Manage Goodale, Yale University, for her talk “Physiological acclimation of pioneer species to changing light environments." Her co-authors were Graeme P. Berlyn, Mark S. Ashton, and Kushan U. Tennakoon.


2007 Li-COR prize - Jason Kilgore, of Michigan State University, for his poster “Influence of cold tolerance on upper elevation range limits in isolated mountain islands Ponderosae" His co-author was Frank W. Telewski.


2006 Li-COR prize - Erika Sudderth, for her talk “Physiological performance of C3, C4, and intermediate Flaveria species in the Tehuaca?Ln Valley of Mexico." Her co-author was Noel M. Holbrook.


2005 Li-COR prize - Claudia Paredes López, Instituto de Ecología
For her talk “Is there predawn disequilibrium between plant and soil water potentials in the mangrove Laguncularia racemosa?" Her co-author was Jorge Lopez-Portillo.


2004 Li-COR prize
Daniel Johnson , Wake Forest
For his talk “Chlorophyll florescence in cotyledons and primary needles of a high-altitude confier." His co-authors were Thomas Vogelman and William Smith.


2003 Li-COR prize
Katherine McCullough, University of Utah
For her talk "Do plants comply with Murray's Law?" Her co-author was John S. Sperry.


2001 Li-COR prize - Tara Lin Greaver, University of Miami
For her paper "The effects of reflected light on the anatomy and photosynthesis of Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. BR. (Convolvulaceae), a tropical sand dune vine."


2000 Li-COR prize - Suneetha Alokam, University of Calgary
For the talk co-authored with Chandanda Chinnappa and David Reid entitled, "Red/Far red light-mediated shade avoidance stem elongation response and anthocyanin accumulation in alpine and prairie ecotypes of Stellaria longipes."


1998 Li-COR prize - Stephen Witzig, Salisbury State University
For his talk entitled "A microbial symbiont used to alter the nutritional quality of plants."

Tissue Culture Prize - Katie A. Gustavsen, University of Delaware
For her paper entitled "Genetic transformation of Atriplex triangularis (seaside greens) using Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the p35 GUSint Ti plasmid."


1997 Li-COR prize - Jaren I. Madden, University of Connecticut, Storrs
For her talk with Cynthia S. Jones entitled "Characterization of somatic embryogenesis response of Pelagonium species to exogenous cytokinens."


1996 Li-COR prize - Edward M. Doran
For his paper with Rose Cattolico entitled "Photoregulation of chloroplast gene expression in Heterosigma carterae."


1994 Li-COR Prize - Michael R. Bynum, University of Wyoming, Laramie
For his paper entitled, "Rapid and reversible floral movements in artic gentians: Benefits for male and female fitness in an alpine environment."


1991 DNA Plant Technology, Inc. Prize - Xianggan Li
For the paper "Culture and salt tolerance of protoplasts from the halophyte Sporobolus virginicus."


1983 Best Student Paper - Mr. Randy D. Allen, Texas A & M
For his his paper entitled "Effects of metabolic inhibitors and growth regulators on storage protein mobilization in sunflower cotyledons."

1981 - Pete O. Council, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
For his paper entitled, "The control of growth in carrot cell suspension cultures."


1979 - David D. Biesboer, Indiana University
For his paper entitled "Production of sterols by callus cultures of Euphorbia tirucalli L."


1977 - S. G. Pallardy
For his papers entitled, "Early root and shoot growth of rooted tip cuttings of four Populus clones," and "Leaf resistance and leaf water potential of four Populus clones."