Hoffmann, VanBuren honored with 2026 CANR Mid-Career Researcher Award
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EmailHanne M. Hoffmann, Ph.D., and Robert VanBuren, Ph.D., have been selected as the recipients of the 2026 CANR Mid-Career Researcher Award. They will be honored with the award during the CANR Faculty and Staff Awards reception on May 6.
Hanne M. Hoffmann, Ph.D., of the Department of Animal Science, and Robert VanBuren, Ph.D., of the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, have been selected as the recipients of the 2026 CANR Mid‑Career Researcher Award.
The CANR Excellence in Research Award program recognizes the outstanding contributions of CANR researchers to Michigan State University’s research mission. In particular, the awards highlight the impact of their achievements on academic and external stakeholder communities. The Mid‑Career Researcher Award recognizes individuals with 5 to 15 years of service and research experience within MSU and CANR.
Hanne M. Hoffmann, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Animal Science, is recognized for her research at the intersection of circadian biology, reproductive physiology and translational science. Her work has established the molecular circadian clock as a key regulator of fertility, pregnancy and labor, demonstrating how time of day influences uterine function and drug effectiveness. Recent findings on oxytocin efficacy, including differences in women with gestational diabetes, have gained national attention for their potential to improve maternal health outcomes. Hoffmann also translates discovery into application through agricultural innovation, including co-developing a wireless, noninvasive sensor to monitor uterine contractions in cattle, improving detection of calving complications and herd health.
Robert VanBuren, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Departments of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and Plant Biology and a member of the Plant Resilience Institute, is internationally recognized for his contributions to plant genomics and stress physiology. His research examines how plants adapt to drought and extreme water stress, with emphasis on desiccation tolerance and resilience across plant lineages. By integrating comparative genomics, multi-omics data and predictive modeling, VanBuren’s work has advanced efforts to develop climate-resilient crops. His leadership in developing the Great Lakes Advanced Climate Impact and Experimental Research Center has positioned MSU at the forefront of climate-stress field research.