Special funds are provided to secure scientists from the international community that can contribute to the research program. Auer, whose appointment will last for three years, will contribute to projects that involve genetic and biochemical approaches to modifying plant hormones for the improvement of plant growth. The appointment is the result of a two-month visit Auer made to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umea, Sweden. During that time, she conducted a series of collaborative experiments with Goran Sandberg and his colleagues in the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology. It's an honor to become a part of this plant biotechnology group.
International collaborations can be so productive on many levels.
Her main research at UConn focuses on cytokinins, one of five types of plant hormones that occur naturally in all plants. Among other functions, cytokinins help keep leaves green and active in the process of photosynthesis. If we could understand how cytokinins work, we could use them to change plant growth. For example, we could delay the aging of garden flowers and keep their leaves green until the first frost. Auer not only encourages collaboration between scientists abroad, but also between faculty and students.