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Dr. Yi-Fang Tsay, a distinguished research fellow of the Institute of Molecular Biology, recently received the 11th annual Outstanding Women in Science Award. Dr. Tsay is an internationally renowned molecular biologist focusing on plant nutrition. She is mainly engaged in the functional research of cell membrane proteins and is known for her discoveries regarding nitrate transport in plants.

Through investigating plant genetics, Dr. Tsay uncovered and pinpointed the first nitrate transporter, thus opening up a brand new dimension at the molecular level to study nitrate transport in plants. Based on a firm understanding the structure and mechanism of nitrate transporters, she was able to design new strategies to increase the efficiency of nitrogen use in crops, effectively reducing both the use of nitrogen fertilizers and the harm brought by such use on the environment. For her innovative breakthroughs, she obtained patents in both Taiwan and the United States. Her research on nitrogen and nitrate in plant growth has also been included in textbooks on plant physiology.

The Outstanding Women in Science Award was jointly established by the Wu Chien-Shiung Education Foundation, the National Women’s League of the R.O.C., and L’oreal Taiwan. The award recognizes the efforts and contributions of Taiwanese female scientists in the field. By showcasing outstanding female scientists as role models, the award endeavors to encourage young Taiwanese female students to pursue careers in scientific research. The Outstanding Women in Science Award shines a spotlight on the research achievements of women scientists as a means of improving and raising the profile of Taiwanese female scientists in the international scientific community.