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Alice Y. Cheung, distinguished professor in the UMass Amherst Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has been featured as a Spotlight Scholar for April 2024.

Cheung's research has contributed to major advances in the study of plant reproduction. She is internationally renowned for her groundbreaking research, which utilizes cell biological, biochemical, molecular, and biophysical approaches. By elucidating the mechanisms by which flowering plants reproduce, her research has enabled her lab and others to begin manipulating reproductive barriers between species to enhance plant qualities, addressing challenges in global agriculture. 

Cheung has authored over 100 publications, many of high impact, and her work has received over 10,000 citations. For her research and contributions to the community of plant biology researchers, Cheung was elected a fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), the largest plant biology disciplinary society in the world. In 2020, she was awarded one of the society’s highest honors, the Lawrence Bogorad Award for Excellence in Plant Biology. She is also an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a founding member of the ASPB Legacy Society, which works to nurture future generations of plant biologists. At UMass, Cheung has mentored scores of students, including more than 100 undergraduates. 

Cheung said, “I pour my heart into doing everything I do, so I count myself lucky to have landed in a field that fascinates me and continuously open doors for me to learn. I am glad that my efforts have contributed to advancing my field. But I know all along, I will value most having been able to influence and open doors for my students and ease their paths.” 

To read more about Cheung and previous Spotlight Scholars, or to learn about the nomination process, visit the Spotlight Scholars website.