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BORN
1953
DIED
2022
Jane Silverthorne Obituary
SILVERTHORNE
DR. JANE SILVERTHORNE
Dr. Jane Silverthorne passed away peacefully at her home in Arlington, Virginia on August 15, 2022. She was born in Somerset, England to William and Margaret Silverthorne on July 26, 1953. Dr. Silverthorne is survived by her sister Alison Silverthorne and her nephew William Silverthorne. She was predeceased by her parents.
Dr. Silverthorne had an illustrious career in plant science and plant genome research that spanned more than four decades. As the daughter of a Royal Navy officer, Dr. Silverthorne spent her childhood in England, Scotland and Malta, moving every two years with her father's naval postings. She became interested in plant science at Farnham Girls' Grammar School in Surrey. Her love of travel and art remained constant throughout her life, as did her fascination with biological sciences in general and plant molecular biology and plant genomics, in particular.
Dr. Silverthorne attended the University of Sussex, Brighton, where she received her B.Sc. degree in Biology. She received her Ph.D from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Warwick, and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1987, she joined the faculty at the University of California, Santa Cruz where she served as an Assistant, Associate and Full Professor with tenure through 2004 in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Her research program focused on the role of phytochromes, an important class of photoreceptors that control plant growth and development.
In 1999, Dr. Silverthorne joined the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a Program Director for the Plant Genome Research Program. Until her retirement in 2017, she continued to make significant contributions to the biological sciences and importantly, the plant sciences at NSF where she held several positions in program administration and management and as a senior manager for the Biological Sciences Directorate. In these roles, she initiated multiple programs, including Metabolomics for a Low Carbon Society (with the Japan Science and Technology Agency), the Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development (BREAD) program (with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) and two Ideas Labs focused on photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in partnership with the UK Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council. While at NSF, Dr. Silverthorne also served as a senior advisor to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy from 2006 to 2008. In 2017, Dr. Silverthorne retired from NSF as Deputy Assistant Director for the Biological Sciences Directorate.
Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Silverthorne contributed to the advancement of plant science through leadership roles on many boards and advisory groups, including the OECD Working Party on Biotechnology and the U.S.-E.U. Task Force on Biotechnology Research. She was the Vice President of the Board of Trustees for the Human Frontier Science Program, and U.S. Head of Delegation to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. After her retirement from NSF, she served as Senior Science Advisor for the Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR), and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board and Board Member of the Boyce Thompson Institute. In recognition of her contributions to science, Dr. Silverthorne was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2012 and was the 2020 recipient of the American Society of Plant Biologists Leadership in Science Public Service Award.
Dr. Silverthorne touched many lives through her work and as a leader in her community. She helped guide the careers of countless young scientists and other professionals in government and academia. She shared her passion for science and good government with people around the world, and she appreciated and celebrated art, music, and culture in every form. She cared deeply for her friends and loved ones. She will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
DR. JANE SILVERTHORNE
Dr. Jane Silverthorne passed away peacefully at her home in Arlington, Virginia on August 15, 2022. She was born in Somerset, England to William and Margaret Silverthorne on July 26, 1953. Dr. Silverthorne is survived by her sister Alison Silverthorne and her nephew William Silverthorne. She was predeceased by her parents.
Dr. Silverthorne had an illustrious career in plant science and plant genome research that spanned more than four decades. As the daughter of a Royal Navy officer, Dr. Silverthorne spent her childhood in England, Scotland and Malta, moving every two years with her father's naval postings. She became interested in plant science at Farnham Girls' Grammar School in Surrey. Her love of travel and art remained constant throughout her life, as did her fascination with biological sciences in general and plant molecular biology and plant genomics, in particular.
Dr. Silverthorne attended the University of Sussex, Brighton, where she received her B.Sc. degree in Biology. She received her Ph.D from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Warwick, and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1987, she joined the faculty at the University of California, Santa Cruz where she served as an Assistant, Associate and Full Professor with tenure through 2004 in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Her research program focused on the role of phytochromes, an important class of photoreceptors that control plant growth and development.
In 1999, Dr. Silverthorne joined the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a Program Director for the Plant Genome Research Program. Until her retirement in 2017, she continued to make significant contributions to the biological sciences and importantly, the plant sciences at NSF where she held several positions in program administration and management and as a senior manager for the Biological Sciences Directorate. In these roles, she initiated multiple programs, including Metabolomics for a Low Carbon Society (with the Japan Science and Technology Agency), the Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development (BREAD) program (with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) and two Ideas Labs focused on photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in partnership with the UK Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council. While at NSF, Dr. Silverthorne also served as a senior advisor to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy from 2006 to 2008. In 2017, Dr. Silverthorne retired from NSF as Deputy Assistant Director for the Biological Sciences Directorate.
Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Silverthorne contributed to the advancement of plant science through leadership roles on many boards and advisory groups, including the OECD Working Party on Biotechnology and the U.S.-E.U. Task Force on Biotechnology Research. She was the Vice President of the Board of Trustees for the Human Frontier Science Program, and U.S. Head of Delegation to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. After her retirement from NSF, she served as Senior Science Advisor for the Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR), and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board and Board Member of the Boyce Thompson Institute. In recognition of her contributions to science, Dr. Silverthorne was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2012 and was the 2020 recipient of the American Society of Plant Biologists Leadership in Science Public Service Award.
Dr. Silverthorne touched many lives through her work and as a leader in her community. She helped guide the careers of countless young scientists and other professionals in government and academia. She shared her passion for science and good government with people around the world, and she appreciated and celebrated art, music, and culture in every form. She cared deeply for her friends and loved ones. She will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Washington Post on Sep. 18, 2022.
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