Patrick Schnable has been appointed associate director of the Plant Sciences Institute. Schnable is professor in the departments of agronomy and the department of genetics, development and cell biology. He also is director of the Center for Plant Genomics, one of nine centers in the institute.

Schnable has been active in the Plant Sciences Institute since its establishment in 1999. He will join director Stephen Howell in administering institute programs.

Schnable will oversee five research initiatives launched last year. The projects utilize the institute's expertise in biotechnology to address challenges in Iowa agriculture and to enhance the value of Iowa crops. He also will share responsibilities with Howell to represent the institute at the local, state and national levels.

"In his new role, Pat Schnable will further enhance the reputation of the Plant Sciences Institute and its impressive record of achievements," said Ben Allen, vice president for academic affairs and provost. "I'm very pleased that he accepted this leadership position."

Schnable joined the faculty at Iowa State in 1988. He is nationally known for his work in maize genetics. He manages several multi-million dollar grants in a research program that emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to understanding plant biology. Schnable led the development of a high-throughput mapping technology being used to sequence the maize genome.

"Pat Schnable is highly respected as a leading scientist in the plant research community. He has tremendous leadership capabilities and adds considerable national prestige to the institute," Howell said.

The Plant Sciences Institute at Iowa State University is dedicated to becoming one of the world's leading plant science research institutes. More than 200 faculty from the College of Agriculture, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Human Sciences and the College of Engineering conduct research in nine centers of the institute. They seek fundamental knowledge about plant systems to help feed the growing world population, strengthen human health and nutrition, improve crop quality and yield, foster environmental sustainability and expand the uses of plants for biobased products and bioenergy. The Plant Sciences Institute supports the training of students for exciting career opportunities and promotes new technologies to aid in the economic development of agriculture and industry throughout the state. The institute is supported through public and private funding.