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NEWS RELEASE

06-10-02

Contacts:
Catherine Woteki, College of Agriculture, (515) 294-2518
Kendall Lamkey, Agronomy, (515) 294-7826
Teddi Barron, News Service, (515) 294-4778

LAMKEY NAMED PIONEER MAIZE BREEDING CHAIR AT IOWA STATE

Ames, Iowa -- Kendall Lamkey has been named Pioneer Hi-Bred International Endowed Chair in Maize Breeding and director of the Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding at Iowa State University. The appointment is effective July 1.

Lamkey is a research geneticist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service and a professor of agronomy at Iowa State. His research focuses on the origin, maintenance and utilization of genetic variation in maize. Lamkey specializes in the development of quantitative and statistical genetic models.

As holder of the Pioneer Maize Breeding Chair in the agronomy department, Lamkey will lead Iowa State's maize breeding program, conducting multidisciplinary and field-oriented research and developing germplasm for regional agricultural systems. He will lead a research program that emphasizes quantitative and population genetics, selection theory and breeding methodology.

As director of the Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding, a research center in the Plant Sciences Institute, Lamkey will lead faculty and graduate students who conduct research on the development and performance of promising new hybrids and varieties. Center researchers study plant breeding in corn, forages, soybeans, popcorn, small grains and potential new crops.

"Almost since its founding, Iowa State University has conducted basic and applied plant breeding research that has had profound impacts for Iowa, the Midwest and the nation," said Catherine Woteki, dean of the College of Agriculture. "Under Dr. Lamkey's leadership, our breeding programs will continue to build on this legacy of success."

Lamkey earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1980 and 1982, respectively. He earned his doctorate in plant breeding and cytogenetics from Iowa State in 1985. Lamkey has been with the USDA since 1984 and joined Iowa State's faculty in 1985. He is editor of "Journal of Heredity" and technical editor of "Crop Science." Lamkey has published more than 50 research publications.

The Pioneer Maize Breeding Chair was created earlier this year through a gift from Pioneer, given through the Iowa State University Foundation.

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