Mary Helen Goldsmith

Mary Helen Goldsmith (née Martin; May 2, 1933 – October 2, 2024) was an American plant physiologist known for her work on how hormones impact plant growth. She was a fellow and past president of the American Society of Plant Physiologists.

Life and career Goldsmith had a B.A. from Cornell University. She earned her Ph.D. in 1960 from Radcliffe College where she researched the importance of indole acetic acid in the grass, Avena. In 1963 she joined the faculty at Yale University where she worked until her retirement in 2006. She also served as the president of the American Society of Plant Physiologists.

Research Goldsmith's early work was on impact of oxygen on insects. During her Ph.D., she began to examine the movement of auxins, such as indole acetic acid, into corn. She particularly focused on the polar diffusion of auxins. Her research extends to studies on changes in plant cells during transport of polar chemicals, intracellular measurements of membrane potential, and activation of potassium channels.

Selected publications

Awards and honors 1986 - Goldsmith received a Guggenheim Fellowship in plant sciences.

2007 - Goldsmith was named a fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists.

Goldsmith has been recognized as a Pioneer Member of the American Society of Plant Biologists.