Kedong Da

Bio

With over 20 years of plant tissue culture, transformation, gene editing, and molecular biology research experience. Kedong conducted research and practiced education in Asia (China and South Korea), Europe (Sweden), and different parts of the United States (Georgia, Virginia, Oregon, and North Carolina). He has advanced the science and practice of tissue culture for a broad range of crops including (but not limited to) horticulture and row crops such as apple, pear, cherry, grape, blueberry, strawberry, sweet potato, potato, ornamental grasses, various flowering plants, cotton, wheat, corn, and soybeans. Kedong has enhanced genetic transformation systems for apple, cabbage, orchid, and cotton and conducted gene-editing work with cherry, grape, and strawberry. Kedong brings outstanding management experience. Past leadership roles have included: Director of the horticultural crop biotechnology center (College of Horticulture, SDAU); Director of plant tissue culture micro-propagation center (Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Virginia). Kedong joined NC State in 2020 from Syngenta USA, where he was a lead scientist for corn DH breeding.

Kedong’s role at NC State is to provide innovative leadership to manage the Plant Transformation Laboratory, to work with faculty, staff, students, and industry partners to advance plant tissue culture, transformation, gene editing, and bioengineering research and development, to develop a business plan linked to fee-for-service to support operating and technical support staff through receipts, contracts, and grants. He will consult and collaborate, as well as develop innovative methods, techniques, and approaches for plant transformation and gene editing.

All are welcome to contact Kedong for various plant tissue culture, transformation, and gene editing needs. PTL is currently accepting intern and research assistant applications. Please email kda@ncsu.edu or visit the Plant Transformation Lab website for more information.