Plant Lipid Biology & Biotechnology Symposium

Friday, November 20, 2026

9:00 - 9:35 AM
“The Shifting of Plant Biotechnology”
Richard Dixon, Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus, University of North Texas
9:35 - 10:10 AM
Jantana Blanford, Assistant Biologist
Brookhaven National Laboratory
10:10 - 10: 30 AM
BREAK
10:30 - 11:05 AM
Peter Koulen, Professor and Felix and Carmen Sabates Missouri Endowed Chair in Vision Research, University of Missouri-Kansas City
11:05 - 11:40 AM
“Ring, Big Impact: From Gene Discovery to Engineering Cyclic Fatty Acids in Plants”
Patrick Horn, Assistant Professor, University of North Texas
11:40 AM - 1:00 PM
LUNCH
1:00 - 1:35 PM
“Lipid Signaling in Nuclei”
Xuemin Wang, Curator’s Distinguished Professor & Des Lee Endowed Professor, University of Missouri - St. Louis & Danforth Plant Science Center
1:35 - 2:10 PM
“From Animals to Plants: Insights into Cellular Mechanisms of Lipid Packaging”
Yingqi Cai, Assistant Professor, Washington State University
2:10 - 2:30 PM
BREAK
2:30 - 3:30 PM
“Cultivating Innovation: Accelerating Plant Science to Market”
Ed Cahoon, Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
3:30 - 4:05 PM
“From Plant Oils to Advanced Biolubricants: Strategies for Improving Friction, Wear, and Lubrication in Mechanical Systems”
Diana Berman, Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, University of North Texas
4:05 - 4:40 PM
“N-Acylethanolamines: Bioactive Lipids that Shaped a Research Program”
Elison Blancaor, Program Scientist, NASA Biological and Physical Sciences 
4:40 - 5:00 PM
Tribute Session/ Congratulations/ Closing Remarks