The Anhydrobiosis Research, Tools & Techniques Public Webinar Series


The Anhydrobiosis Research, Tools & Techniques Webinar Series is a public seminar and technical training series featuring research talks and practical workshops focused on the science of desiccation tolerance across organisms and scales. Sessions highlight both scientific advances and applied methods, with the goal of supporting training, collaboration, and knowledge sharing across the anhydrobiosis community.

Hosted by the Water and Life Interface Institute (WALII), each session will feature invited speakers who share cutting-edge research as well as practical tools, techniques, and approaches that can support scientists working across this interdisciplinary field.

The series will take place the second Thursday of each month starting April 9, 2026 at 8 am PT / 9 am MT / 10 am CT / 11 am ET.

Speakers

Tips and Tricks for RNA Extraction from Seeds
Danielle Hoffmann, PhD, Michigan State University
Co-Presenter: Erin Cushing, Michigan State University

Assessing RNA expression in seed tissues at various stages of development and desiccation is imperative to the mission of WALII, which seeks to elucidate the mechanisms underlying organisms at all scales of life’s ability to desiccate and rehydrate. RNA extraction from seed tissue is notoriously difficult due to the high content of oils, proteins, and polyphenols in seeds, which inhibit the efficiency of RNA extraction. Therefore, specialized methods and modifications of RNA extraction protocols are utilized to overcome the inhibitory effects of these molecules. In this technical workshop, WALII members who have successfully extracted RNA from seed tissue will share their successes and failures while troubleshooting the seed RNA extraction method. Two different RNA extraction methods that we have used for two Brassicaceae species’ seeds, Arabidopsis and pennycress, will be shared. This workshop will serve as a resource to help facilitate future researchers to master these techniques in an efficient, timely manner.

Register for this technical training workshop here!

More details about future speakers will be announced soon.

Registration

You can now register for the April session here!

Please note that registration is required for each monthly session. Even if you have attended previous events in the series, you must register again for the upcoming session to receive the webinar link and event details.

Schedule

April 9, 2026 at 8 am PT / 9 am MT / 10 am CT / 11 am ETTips and Tricks for RNA Extraction from Seeds
Presenter: Dr. Danielle Hoffmann, Michigan State University
Co-Presenter: Erin Cushing, Michigan State University		Technical Training Workshop
May 14, 2026 at 8 am PT / 9 am MT / 10 am CT / 11 am ETTBDSeminar
June 11, 2026 at 8 am PT / 9 am MT / 10 am CT / 11 am ETPresenter: Dr. Daniela Billi, University of Rome Tor VergataSeminar
July 9, 2026 at 8 am PT / 9 am MT / 10 am CT / 11 am ETPresenter: Dr. Matt Stata, Michigan State UniversityTechnical Training Workshop
August 13, 2026 at 8 am PT / 9 am MT / 10 am CT / 11 am ETTBDSeminar
September 10, 2026 at 8 am PT / 9 am MT / 10 am CT / 11 am ETPresenter: Dr. Jill Farrant, University of Cape TownSeminar
October 8, 2026 at 8 am PT / 9 am MT / 10 am CT / 11 am ETTBDTechnical Training Workshop