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Dr. Ram Dixit, a professor and chair of biology in Arts & Sciences at the Washington University has been awarded with the Fellows Award (Outstanding Achievement in Science) by the Academy of Science – St. Louis for his remarkable contribution to science. This award will be presented at the Outstanding St. Louis Scientists Awards Ceremony on April 3 at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Dixit is a distinguished biologist whose research on the cytoskeleton is enhancing the understanding of cell shape and plant morphogenesis. Dixit, who studies the molecular machinery that constructs plant cell walls, was chosen for the Fellows Award, which recognizes a distinguished individual for outstanding achievement in science.
Dixit’s research elucidates the mechanisms underlying plant cell morphogenesis — the process by which plants develop their shape and structure. He focuses on the cortical microtubule cytoskeleton, which defines plant cell shape by serving as a scaffold for cell wall assembly. Dixit’s research group conducts its work using a combination of live imaging, in vitro reconstitution at single-molecule resolution, molecular genetics and computational modeling.
Dixit is a principal investigator with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, a WashU-Penn partnership. The center advances the study of mechanical forces in molecules, cells and tissues in plants and animals. Dixit has published in Science, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, The Plant Cell, The Plant Journal, Current Biology and Nature Plants, among others. Dixit received a CAREER Award from the NSF in 2015.
Since its inception, the Outstanding St. Louis Scientists Awards has honored some of the brightest minds in the region, celebrating their exceptional achievements, groundbreaking discoveries, and lasting impact on science and society. This year’s honorees represent a diverse array of disciplines, from plant science and medicine to artificial intelligence and STEM education.
Founded in 1856, The Academy of Science – St. Louis is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting science literacy, education, and collaboration throughout the region. Through public seminars, student programs, and community engagement, the Academy continues to inspire scientific curiosity and discovery.
