Kent Chapman, Regents Professor of biological sciences and director of UNT’s BioDiscovery Institute, was recently awarded the 2021 Fellow of ASPB Award by the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB). The Fellow of ASPB Award was established in 2007 and is granted to members of ASPB in acknowledgement of long-term contributions to plant biology as well as service to the society. 

“I am incredibly proud of Dr. Chapman for receiving this honor,” UNT Provost Jennifer Cowley says. “His forward-thinking research in plant biochemistry and cell biology have made a significant impact in his field, and his outstanding teaching and leadership have amplified UNT’s reputation as a Tier One research university. Our faculty are at the top of their game, and I’m delighted to see Dr. Chapman being recognized for his sustained commitment to academic excellence and scientific discovery."

ASPB, headquartered in Rockville, MD, is a professional scientific society devoted to the advancement of the plant sciences worldwide. It publishes The Plant Cell and Plant Physiology, two of the most universally cited plant science journals. They also co-publish Plant Direct, an Open Access journal, as well as host the annual Plant Biology conference. Chapman currently serves as reviewing editor for The Plant Cell as well as executive editor for the journal, Progress in Lipid Research.

In August 2020, Chapman received the Terry Galliard Medal, a lifetime achievement award by the International Symposium of Plant Lipids. Throughout his more than 27 years at UNT, Chapman has developed a research program in plant biochemistry and cell biology, focusing specifically on plant lipid metabolism, which is recognized internationally.