2026 PRI All-Hands Retreat
The 2026 Plant Resilience Institute (PRI) All-Hands Retreat will take place May 6-7, 2026, at the Michigan State University Multicultural Center. This event will provide an opportunity to meet other PRI members, share research, and establish common interests to facilitate collaborations.
PRI will be celebrating its ten-year anniversary in 2026! In honor of this landmark occasion, we are inviting PRI alumni and key stakeholders to join us on the first day of the retreat.
We are also pleased to welcome Professor of Agronomy Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti from Purdue University as our keynote speaker.
The PRI Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), Richard Dixon, Mary Lou Guerinot, Jan Leach, Corné Pieterse, and Anne Sylvester, will join us for the duration of the retreat to evaluate PRI’s research programs, progress, and impact.
Event Details
Date: May 6-7, 2026 (in-person only)
Times:
Wednesday, May 6: 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM EDT
Thursday, May 7: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EDT
Location:
Michigan State University Multicultural Center
535 N Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48824
Registration
Please fill out the registration form linked above to attend the retreat! You can register as a current PRI member, alumni, or guest/previous faculty. Registration closes on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM EDT.
Tentative Schedule
Day 1: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 – 10th Anniversary Celebration
| Time | Session | Presenter and/or Moderator |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Breakfast and sign-in | |
| 9:00 AM - 9:10 AM | Opening remarks | |
| 9:10 AM - 9:20 AM | State of PRI | Dr. Sue Rhee |
| 9:20 AM - 10:15 AM | PI flash talks (Part 1) 5-minute presentations 20-minute Q&A |
PRI faculty members |
| 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM | Break | |
| 10:30 AM - 11:25 AM | PI flash talks (Part 2) 5-minute presentations 20-minute Q&A |
PRI faculty members |
| 11:25 AM - 11:55 AM | Flash talk competition 3-minute presentations |
PRI trainee flash talk speakers |
| 11:55 AM - 12:50 PM | Lunch | |
| 12:50 PM - 1:00 PM | Group photo | All attendees |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Keynote presentation | Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti, Professor of Agronomy, Purdue University |
| 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM | Flagship project 1 presentation | |
| 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM | Flagship project 2 presentation | |
| 2:40 PM - 3:00 PM | Flagship project 3 presentation | |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Plant and Environmental Sciences Building tour | |
| 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Poster session 1 and networking time | PRI trainee poster presenters |
| 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Poster session 2 and networking time | PRI trainee poster presenters |
| 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Dinner | |
| 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Social time |
Day 2: Thursday, May 7, 2026 – Internal Retreat
| Time | Session | Presenter and/or Moderator |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Breakfast | |
| 9:00 AM - 9:05 AM | Opening remarks | |
| 9:05 AM - 10:00 AM | PRI Seed Grant proposal presentations |
PRI Seed Grant Program awardees |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM |
Equipment and new technology presentations |
|
| 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM | Break | |
| 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM | PRI Postdoctoral Fellows presentations 15-minute presentations 5-minute Q&A sessions |
Drs. Derek Denney, Joanna Feehan, and Jinny Yang |
| 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM | Lunch | |
| Concurrent session 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM |
Faculty meeting | PRI faculty members Moderator: Dr. Sue Rhee |
| Concurrent session 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM |
Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and trainee discussion |
SAB members and PRI trainees Moderator: Dr. Gaëlle Cassin-Ross |
| 2:15 PM - 2:30 PM | Final remarks and awards ceremony | Dr. Sue Rhee |
| 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Break | |
| Concurrent session 2:45 PM - 5:45 PM |
Faculty and SAB meeting | PRI faculty and SAB members |
| Concurrent session 2:45 PM - 5:45 PM |
Trainee meeting | PRI trainees Moderator: Dr. Gaëlle Cassin-Ross |
End of retreat.