Arnold Arboretum: Genomics Initiative and Sequencing Award Grant

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is launching its Genomics Initiative and Sequencing Award to create a genomic type collection of temperate woody plants. With awards up to $10,000, the initiative aims to support de novo sequencing and analysis of key accessioned plants within its distinguished living collections. This effort will enhance research in comparative genomics and plant biology, making vital genomic resources accessible for scientific studies and conservation.

As part of its Living Collections Campaign, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University has begun to create the first “genomic type collection” of plants in the world. This living collection will be the permanent home for sequenced living specimens of temperate woody taxa, available to all who wish to undertake research on the biology of these plants. The Arboretum envisions this collection to be a central resource for comparative genomics, developmental biology, whole plant physiology, phylogenetics, and plant responses to the environment. In addition to growing germplasm of temperate woody plant taxa that have already been sequenced, the Arboretum will promote the development of additional genomic resources through competitive awards for de novo sequencing of important taxa within the Arboretum’s living collections.
The living collections of temperate woody plants at the Arnold Arboretum, numbering some 15,000 plants representing some 2,100 species, are distinguished as one of the most thoroughly documented in the world. Taxonomic diversity and breadth are noteworthy, and the floras of North America, China, Japan, and Korea are particularly well represented.
Awards of up to $10,000 will be granted to support de novo sequencing, analysis, and data sharing of key members (i.e., accessioned plants) of the living collections. Awards are not intended to serve as a salary stipend. Priority will be given to proposals that utilize the following Core Genera and preferred species, however requests to sequence other accessioned taxa or pairs representing biogeographic disjuncts are encouraged:
GinkgoaceaeGinkgo biloba CupressaceaeMetasequoia glyptostroboidesJuglandaceaeCarya ovataPlatycarya strobilacea HamamelidaceaeHamamelis vernalisParrotia persicaPinaceaeTsuga caroliniana OleaceaeSyringa reticulataTheaceaeStewartia pseudocamelliaFranklinia alatamaha CaprifoliaceaeKolkwitzia amabilisHeptacodium miconioidesMagnoliaceaeMagnolia zeniiLiriodendron tulipiferaLiriodendron chinense AdoxaceaeViburnum furcatumViburnum lantanoidesSapindaceaeAcer griseum FagaceaeFagus sylvaticaCornaceaeDavidia involucrata

Eligibility

Awards will be granted to support de novo sequencing, analysis, and data sharing of key members (i.e., accessioned plants) of the living collections.

Ineligibility

Awards are not intended to serve as a salary stipend.