Responsibilities

• Formulate and guide research to identify specific interactions between hard red winter wheat and winter barley germplasm and fusarium head blight (scab) pathogen to develop disease resistant germplasm.e
• Use classical breeding, molecular genetics, genomics, and phenotyping to better understand scab resistance and genetic diversity in wheat and barley.
• Develop and evaluate molecular strategies such as genomic selection for wheat and barley improvement focusing on scab resistance and yield.
• Perform crosses, conduct field/greenhouse-based phenotyping and testing, and evaluate heritability and marker-trait relationships.
• Coordinate scientific activities of project personnel and assist with preparation of annual reports.
• Prepare written work products based on research to be published in scientific journals.
• Provide technical consultation, and facilitate/coordinate research among ARS, University, and private industry plant breeders and pathologists conducting cooperative research on wheat and barley breeding and genetics to find resistance against scab.