We are pleased to announce that the Paul Stumpf Award 2026 has been awarded to Dr. Yingqi Cai.

Dr. Cai is an Assistant Professor at Washington State University, where she leads a research program focused on plant lipid metabolism and lipid droplet biology. She obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of North Texas, studying lipogenic factors in plants. She subsequently carried out postdoctoral research at Brookhaven National Laboratory, where she investigated regulatory mechanisms of plant lipid metabolism and developed strategies to enhance lipid accumulation in vegetative tissues without compromising plant growth.

Her research has significantly advanced our understanding of lipid droplet biology in plants, including the identification of key lipid droplet-associated proteins and the development of mechanistic models describing lipid droplet formation. At Washington State University, her group integrates molecular, biochemical, and advanced imaging approaches to elucidate the mechanisms of lipid droplet biogenesis and function. Her work also explores their roles in plant development, stress responses, and energy storage, as well as their potential for engineering plants to produce valuable bioproducts.

As part of the award ceremony, Dr. Cai will deliver a lecture entitled:
“Plant Cellular Machinery for Lipid Droplet Biogenesis”

We warmly congratulate Dr. Cai on this well-deserved recognition