Beronda Montgomery facts for kids

Beronda Montgomery is a scientist, writer, and speaker. She studies how plants and tiny organisms called cyanobacteria react to their surroundings. She also works to make science a more fair and welcoming place for everyone. In 2022, she became a professor of biology and a leader at Grinnell College. Before that, she was a professor at Michigan State University. She also helped start and organize Black Botanists Week, which celebrates Black scientists who study plants.

Becoming a Scientist

Beronda Montgomery studied biology at Washington University in St. Louis. She then earned her master's degree from the University of Central Arkansas. In 2001, she received her PhD in Plant Biology from the University of California, Davis. After that, she did more research at Indiana University. This research was supported by an award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). In 2004, she joined the team at Michigan State University, where she worked until 2022.

Leading in Science

Dr. Montgomery has held many important leadership roles. From 2016 to 2020, she helped professors and staff at Michigan State University with their research. She also worked as a leader in research and innovation at the university.

Since July 2022, Dr. Montgomery has been a vice president and dean at Grinnell College in Iowa. This means she helps lead the college's academic programs.

Her Research

Dr. Montgomery's research looks at how organisms that use photosynthesis (like plants and cyanobacteria) change to fit their environment. These organisms need light to make their own food. So, they have special ways to react when the light changes.

Her lab studies important molecules that help with this process. These include pigments that absorb light and receptors called phytochromes that sense light. Her team wants to understand how these molecules control how cells grow and work. They often study tiny plants called Arabadopsis and cyanobacteria to learn more.

Dr. Montgomery's amazing research has been recognized by many important science groups. She was chosen as a fellow by the American Academy of Microbiology in 2018. She also became a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2020. In 2021, she was named a fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists. In 2022, she became a fellow of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Helping Others Grow

Dr. Montgomery also studies how to be a good mentor. Mentors are experienced people who guide and support others. She focuses on helping students and new scientists from groups that are often underrepresented in science.

She has written a lot about how to keep talented people in science. She creates ways for mentors to help people based on their individual needs. Dr. Montgomery has also worked with groups like the American Society for Microbiology. She helps connect scientists with students in classrooms. With funding from the National Science Foundation, she helped create a program called ASM-NSF LINK. This program builds "links" between researchers, students, and teachers.

She also spent six years leading a fellowship program for microbiology students. This program helps more students from underrepresented groups earn their doctoral degrees. Dr. Montgomery wants to make sure that today's students become great mentors for the next generation. This helps more diverse students succeed in STEM careers.

Dr. Montgomery is an expert in good mentorship. She advises universities on how to make their science programs more diverse and fair. She used to be on the advisory board for 500 Women Scientists. There, she helped make science open and welcoming for everyone.

Her Book

Dr. Montgomery wrote a book called Lessons from Plants. It was published in 2021. In her book, she compares how plants live and grow to our own daily life experiences.

Awards and Honors

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2007
• Michigan State University Foundation Professorship, 2016
• American Society for Microbiology Distinguished Lecturer, 2017-2019
• American Academy of Microbiology Fellow, 2018
• John Wiley Jones Distinguished Lecturer, 2019
• Cell Press CrossTalk's 100 Inspiring Black Scientists in America List, 2020
• Union of Concerned Scientists Science Defender, 2020
• American Association for the Advancement of Science, Elected Fellow, 2020
• Ritter Memorial Lecturer, 2021
• NSF BIO Distinguished Lecturer, 2021
• Botanical Society of America, Recipient, Charles Edwin Bessey Teaching Award, 2021
• American Society of Plant Biologists, Elected Fellow, 2021
• GardenComm [Garden Communicators International], Honoree, Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award, 2021
• American Society for Cell Biology, Recipient, Mentoring Keynote Award, 2021
• American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Elected Fellow, 2022
• American Society for Microbiology, Recipient, Honorary Diversity Lecturer Award, 2022
• American Society of Plant Biologists, Recipient, Adolph E. Gude, Jr. Award, 2022

See also

In Spanish: Beronda Montgomery para niños