Davis, California
June 26, 2008
Filling a critical industry need
for additional plant breeders, the UC
Davis Plant Breeding AcademySM (PBA) recently
graduated its inaugural class. Fifteen students from seed
companies across the U.S. and from as far as Hong Kong and
Canada participated in the program.
|
 |
“…the Plant Breeding Academy has without a doubt given me
powerful tools to tackle virtually any problem I might encounter
in my career as a professional plant breeder. Highly
recommended!” said Adam Dick of Tomato Solutions, Inc., Ontario,
Canada.
The PBA provides an innovative educational program to develop
plant breeding expertise for the seed industry. It was developed
by the UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center in response to
industry concerns over the lack of plant breeders being trained
in academic programs.
The two-year course gives companies the chance to invest in
employees currently involved in breeding programs who want
further formal instruction in genetics, statistics and plant
breeding theory. The course schedule allows students to maintain
their jobs while enrolled. Academy graduates will be able to
work as independent plant breeders or to direct regional plant
breeding programs.
The course consists of lectures, field trips, discussions,
homework and a comprehensive final project where students design
a breeding program. Course instructors include Doug Shaw and
Larry Teuber from UC Davis and Todd Wehner from North Carolina
State University, all internationally recognized plant breeders.
Guest lecturers with expertise in specific areas are also
invited to speak.
Class II of the PBA will begin in September 2008, with 20
students from around the world enrolled.
For more information, see
pba.ucdavis.edu or contact
Catherine L. Glaeser
Tel. +1 530 752 4414
Email:
clglaeser@ucdavis.edu |
|
