Andrew H. Paterson, Ph.D.
Distinguished Research Professor
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation and the American Farm Bureau Federation are honored to have awarded the achievements of the 2011 $25,000 Distinguished Agriscience Scientist’s Award Columbus Scholar.
Andrew H. Paterson, Ph.D. is a Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Georgia, jointly appointed in three Departments (Crop and Soil Science, Plant Biology, and Genetics), and the head of the Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory. Dr. Paterson’s research uses genomic tools and approaches to study crop improvement, plant biodiversity, and molecular evolution. His lab has contributed to knowledge of sorghum, cotton, sugarcane, peanut, Miscanthus, switchgrass, Bermuda grass, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, rice, tomato, maize and other crops, as well as several major weeds, one nitrogen-fixing bacterium (Azospirillum), and a group of viruses important in poultry.
Dr. Paterson is a member of the American Society for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and became an AAAS Fellow in 1998. His contributions and research in agricultural genomics, plant sciences, and genetics and evolutionary biology, have resulted in national and international recognition. His 250+ scientific publications and four books have elucidated fundamental principles of plant biology and their application to improving food, feed, fiber and biomass crops. He has served on editorial boards of nine professional journals and serves in several national and international research initiatives.
Dr. Paterson received his B.S. (Summa Cum Laude, 1982) in agriculture from the University of Delaware, and his M.S. (1986) in plant breeding and Ph.D. (1988) in plant genetics from Cornell University. From 1989-1991 he was employed by the E.U. DuPont Company in agricultural biotechnology. He joined the Texas A&M University faculty in 1991. He moved to the University of Georgia in 1999, and became a Distinguished Research Professor in 2002 and his unit was made a department in 2008. He has been a member of the Georgia Farm Bureau since moving to the State in 1999, and was a member of the Texas Farm Bureau from 1992-1998.
The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is honored to have had the assistance of the following distinguished individuals serving on the 2011 Agriscience Awards Evaluation Committee:
- MeeCee Baker, Ph.D.
Partner, Chief Operating Officer
Versant Strategies
Harrisburg, PA - Gary Matteson
The Farm Credit Council
VP Young, Beginning, Small Farmer
Programs and Outreach
Washington, D.C. - Meghan Mueseler
Cargill, Inc.
Wichita, KS - Kevin Paap
President
Minnesota Farm Bureau
Minneapolis, MN - Robert W. Clark, Ph.D.
Professional Personnel Development Center
Workforce Education & Development Program
Penn State University
University Park, PA
