The first-ever WALII seed grants have been awarded to Sheila Ferer and John F. Ramirez to pursue integrative and collaborative research that further explores the relationship between water and life.

Ferer works as a research assistant in the Tapia Lab at California State University Channel Islands. Her project, “Global proteome rewiring in times of desiccation and rehydration” will be a collaboration between the Tapia Lab and Boeynaems Lab at the Baylor College of Medicine.

Ramirez is a 3rd-year PhD student in the Boothby Lab within the Molecular Biology Department at the University of Wyoming. For his project, “Identifying glass properties that distinguish desiccation tolerant and sensitive tissues in resurrection plants,” John will combine his resources and approaches with those of his co-authors from the VanBuren Lab at Michigan State University.

The seed grant is an annual award of $5,000 available to WALII personnel who submit proposals for innovative research involving at least two WALII-affiliated labs. Training and Education at WALII happens at all career stages, from undergraduates to faculty, with exposure to new tools, approaches, and biological systems. Learn about joining a WALII lab here.