Sharon R. Long

Sharon Rugel Long (born March 2, 1951) is an American plant biologist. She is the Steere-Pfizer Professor of Biological Science in the Department of Biology at Stanford University, and the Principal Investigator of the Long Laboratory at Stanford.

Long studies the symbiosis between bacteria and plants, in particular the relationship of nitrogen-fixing bacteria to legumes. Her work has applications for energy conservation and sustainable agriculture.

Early life and education Sharon Rugel Long was born on to Harold Eugene and Florence Jean (Rugel) Long. She attended George Washington High School in Denver, Colorado. Long spent a year at Harvey Mudd College before becoming one of the first women to attend Caltech in September 1970. She completed a double major in biochemistry and French literature in the Independent Studies Program, and obtained her B.S. in 1973.

Career and research Long joined the Stanford University faculty in 1982 From 1994 to 2001, she was also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

From 1993 to 1996, she was part of the National Research Councils Committee on Undergraduate Science Education. She served as Dean of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University from 2001 to 2007.

In September 2008 she was identified as one of 5 science advisors for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. In 2011, she was appointed to the President's Committee on the National Medal of Science by President Obama.

Long identified and cloned genes that allow bacteria to find and enter certain plants in which they live symbiotically. She has examined the interactions of Rhizobium bacteria with legumes such as alfalfa, soybeans and peas, in which they enhance nitrogen production. She has genetically modified bacteria to make them more effective at entering host plants and producing nitrogen. Such initiatives may enable farmers to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use and runoff of fertilizer into local water supplies. Rhizobium cells recognize and form nodules on their plant hosts. Her group discovered that a flavone (luteolin) derived from alfalfa seed extracts is necessary for activation of nodulation genes (nod ABC) in Sinorhizobium meliloti. They proved that some nod genes encode enzymes that synthesize Nod Factor. They discovered that plant root hair cells show rapid ionic changes including calcium spiking in response to specific Nod Factors. With colleagues, they have identified plant genes for symbiosis, and correlated these with specific stages in nodule development.

Selected publications

Awards and honors 1984–1989, Presidential Young Investigator Award, National Science Foundation 1992, MacArthur Foundation Fellowship 2002, Wilbur Cross Medal in Biology, Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (highest alumni honor) 2007, fellow, American Society of Plant Biologists 2019 Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology Recognized as a Pioneer Member of the American Society of Plant Biologists.

Personal life Long married Harold James McGee on July 7, 1979, and divorced in 2004. They had two children.