The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative will hold a series of seminars Feb. 3-14 for candidates for the Roberts and Mikhail Distinguished Professor in Genome Editing.

This position will serve as the executive director of the newly established Genome Editing Center (GEC) for Sustainable Agriculture. The center’s leader will develop a multifaceted research program focused on genome editing with the goal of developing the technology’s role in enhancing food security, nutrition and environmental health.

Candidates and their respective seminar dates are as follows:

• Thomas Jacobs, associate professor at Ghent University and group leader for VIB-University Ghent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Belgium

  • Research Seminar: Monday, Feb. 3, 10:15-11:15 a.m., 3503 Thomas Hall

  • Center Seminar: Tuesday, Feb. 4, noon-1 p.m., Seminar ABC, Plant Sciences Building

• Timothy Kelliher, head of Crop Trait and Technology Discovery, Syngenta Seeds Research

  • Research Seminar: Tuesday, Feb. 11, noon-1 p.m., 2503 Thomas Hall

  • Center Seminar: Wednesday, Feb. 12, Seminar ABC, Plant Sciences Building

• Yiping Qi, professor of plant science and landscape architecture, University of Maryland

  • Research Seminar: Thursday, Feb. 13, noon-1 p.m., 2503 Thomas Hall

  • Center Seminar: Friday, Feb. 14, Seminar ABC, Plant Sciences Building

Each candidate will give two 45-minute seminars followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. The first seminar will focus on the candidates’ research interests and activities. The second will focus on their vision for the Genome Editing Center. Interested faculty and staff are invited to attend the in-person seminars to learn more.