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People: Plant Breeding & Genetics

Center of excellence for classical plant breeding, molecular approaches to crop improvement, and creation of superior varieties

Plant Breeding & Genetics contacts

Cornell University
233 Emerson Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853

Section Head, Michael Gore
Phone: (607) 255-5492
Email: mag87 [at] cornell.edu (mag87[at]cornell[dot]edu)

Assistant to the Section Head, Amy Collins
Phone: 607-255-2180
Email: acl10 [at] cornell.edu (acl10[at]cornell[dot]edu)

Director of Graduate Studies: Hale Tufan
Email: hat36 [at] cornell.edu (hat36[at]cornell[dot]edu) 
Office: Plant Science

Graduate Field Coordinator: Ayesha Al-Hashimi 
231 Emerson Hall
Email: aa2849 [at] cornell.edu (aa2849[at]cornell[dot]edu) 

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Faculty & Senior Academics

Tenured and Tenure-track Faculty, Senior Research Associates, and Senior Extension Associates

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Adjunct & Courtesy Faculty

These faculty have primary affiliations with other SIPS sections and Cornell units or with USDA-ARS

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Faculty Emeriti

Faculty emeriti and other retired academics

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Graduate Students

Graduate students in the Field of Plant Breeding

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Academic Staff

Post-doctoral associates, research associates, extension associates, and lecturers

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Technical & Support Staff

Staff members support research scientists, maintain greenhouses and research fields, and manage administrative functions

Plant Breeding & Genetics News

Laurie VanNostrand (right), Cornell Cooperative Extension master gardener coordinator in Wayne County and statewide coordinator for the Vegetable Variety Trial Garden project, chats with a master gardener volunteer at a plant pick-up day on campus on May 12.

News

Master gardeners test for best NYS vegetable varieties

Across 37 counties, Cornell Cooperative Extension master gardeners are growing and evaluating select vegetables to find what grows best in New York state.

  • Cornell Cooperative Extension
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Plant Breeding and Genetics Section
Mark Sorrells in front of small grains field

Spotlight

Cornell small grains breeding strengthens local and global food systems
For 12,000 years, wheat has been the bread of life; its discovery sparked the beginnings of agriculture, which enabled human flourishing across the globe. For farmers in New York’s humid climate, growing small grains like wheat, oats, barley and...
  • Campus Area Farms
  • Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
Grower Humberto Hernandez evaluating a seed production field of Ursa Alta for Condor Seed on his farm in Yuma, Arizona.

News

New low-THC hemp fiber cultivar flourishes in NYS climate

Ursa Alta will supply material for multiple product streams, including textiles such as denim, animal bedding and wall insulation.

  • Cornell AgriTech
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Plant Breeding and Genetics Section
Margaret Smith in corn field

News

Margaret Smith, “embodiment of the land grant mission,” elected emerita
After almost 50 years at Cornell – from an undergraduate student to a widely respected steward of Cornell’s land grant mission – Margaret Smith has been elected professor emerita. Smith came to Cornell in 1974 and earned her bachelor’s (’78) and...
  • Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Plant Breeding and Genetics Section
Builder Jeff Gagnon uses the Ereasy spray system

News

‘Hemp house’ project kicks off new support for NYS hemp

With a $5 million investment from New York state, Cornell is building a processing hub and “service center,” where businesses can research, develop and prototype new hemp-based materials.

  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Plant Breeding and Genetics Section