Conference: Support for 2026 Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA) Conference PSNA's 65th annual meeting, University of Wisconsin-Madison on June 15-19, 2026.

Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants to provide defense against diseases, color for leaves, flowers, and fruits, and aroma or smell, to name a few. While plants use them to benefit themselves, such as attracting pollinators and avoiding harmful germs and insects that cause diseases and damage, the same phytochemicals are the source of nutrition and medicines that benefit human health. To advance phytochemical research, create new knowledge on plant natural products, how plants synthesize them, and their effects on organisms, the Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA) organizes an annual meeting of researchers to learn about new developments, share ideas, and build collaborations. These activities and support for the conference are essential for developing biotechnology innovations to sustain food and energy security, human health, and provide an opportunity to train researchers and students.

This NSF award will support the 65th annual meeting of PSNA, to be held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on June 15-19, 2026. In particular, the award will support the attendance of pre-doctoral and early-career scientists working at U.S.-based institutions by providing an opportunity to network and foster interdisciplinary collaborations to learn about discoveries, innovations, and major challenges in phytochemical research. The 2026 meeting will showcase and discuss critical scientific priorities and new innovative approaches, including biotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI), to advance US leadership in these key areas. Beyond the scientific program, the meeting will host participation-based workshops focused on integrating AI into phytochemical research, discovery, and translation for commercial applications. A professional development workshop will target early-career scientists to explore various career paths in academic, non-academic, and private sectors, contributing to the development of the future U.S. workforce in plant chemistry and related biotech industries. The conference proposal aligns with the current NSF priorities in biotechnology, AI, and translational science.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

Award Number: 2611409
Principal Investigator: Hiroshi Maeda
Funds Obligated: $17,000
State: WI