Timothy Kelliher will join NC State University this July as the Roberts and Mikhail Distinguished Chair in Plant Genome Editing of the Genome Editing Center for Sustainable Agriculture (GEC). Integrated with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ (CALS) state-of-the-art N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI) and its expertise in genome editing and CRISPR, the GEC is poised to revolutionize agriculture. It will offer increased precision and speed in developing new crop and ornamental plant varieties, enhancing crop traits, increasing resilience to environmental stresses, and reducing inputs. Kelliher will be instrumental in establishing the priorities of the GEC as it accelerates the pace of genome editing research in plants and collaborates with the agricultural industry to adapt quickly.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Tim Kelliher as the Roberts and Mikhail Distinguished Chair in Plant Genome Editing. He brings a wealth of experience in applying genome engineering for higher-throughput discovery and delivery of innovative traits to transform plant breeding and germplasm development,” said Garey Fox, dean of NC State’s CALS. “His proven leadership at Syngenta Seeds Research, coupled with his vision for high-throughput genome engineering and interdisciplinary collaboration, will drive transformative advances for CALS and the entire university.”
An expert in plant reproduction and plant breeding technologies, Kelliher has led programs focusing on reproductive biology and technology development for Syngenta since 2013, most recently serving as head of trait technologies and genome editing traits. His focus areas include: genome editing to create novel reproductive traits, hybridization systems, haploid induction and genome doubling, genetic gain acceleration, and plant developmental biology. Kelliher holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. in biology from Stanford University.
“This is an exciting opportunity with the huge potential that genome editing has to help farmers adapt to climate change while continuing to produce high-yielding, nutritious crops that are resistant to diseases and insect pressures,” Kelliher said. “NC State is the perfect place to develop the high-quality genetic resources of the future, due to its close connection with the farming community in the Southeast, the diversity of crops in the state, and the culture of innovation and expertise at the university.”
Among the early goals for the GEC are efforts to develop new plant genome editing tools that will shorten the timespan between scientific exploration and introduction of plant improvement innovations to farmers and growers. The GEC will collaborate with external industry partners to drive intellectual property (IP) generation and commercialization of plant genome editing technologies. It will join established centers and institutes at NC State to drive significant progress in agricultural biotechnology.
“This groundbreaking endeavor wouldn’t be possible without the remarkable support of Dr. Jude Samulski in establishing the Roberts and Mikhail Distinguished Chair in Plant Genome Editing,” Fox said. “Jude’s support was instrumental in attracting someone of Tim’s exceptional talent and skill.”
About Syngenta
Syngenta is a global leader in agricultural innovation with a presence in more than 90 countries. Syngenta is focused on developing technologies and farming practices that empower farmers, so they can make the transformation required to feed the world’s population while preserving our planet. Its bold scientific discoveries deliver better benefits for farmers and society on a bigger scale than ever before. Guided by its Sustainability Priorities, Syngenta is developing new technologies and solutions that support farmers to grow healthier plants in healthier soil with a higher yield. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland; Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States. Read our stories and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & X.
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