Annual Faculty Awards Celebrate Excellence in Education and Innovation

This article originally appeared on the College of Biological Sciences News.

The college is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 CBS Faculty Teaching and Research Awards. These two prestigious awards honor faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to teaching and research, and highlight the integral role each plays in advancing the frontiers of biological sciences. Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra has received the 2024 CBS Faculty Research Award and Marina Ellefson has received the 2024 CBS Faculty Teaching Award.

2024 CBS Faculty Research Award

Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra

Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra

Professor, Evolution and Ecology

Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra is an expert in plant evolutionary genetics. His research focuses on understanding the genetic basis of adaptation in maize and its wild relatives. Ross-Ibarra has made significant contributions to the field, including uncovering key genetic mechanisms that drive evolution and diversity in plant populations. By analyzing how maize has adapted to different environments, Ross-Ibarra and his collaborators hope to identify genes and alleles that could be harnessed to breed maize that will thrive in any number of future environments. His work not only advances our knowledge of plant genetics but also has practical implications for improving crop resilience and sustainability.  

Said Artyom Kopp, a professor and colleague of Ross-Ibarra’s in the Department of Evolution and Ecology, “In a widely-lauded Science paper last year, Jeff and his colleagues reconstructed the origin of maize cultivation. Their findings underscored the complex evolutionary history of the crop and the significant contributions of wild relatives to its genetic diversity and agricultural performance. Without a doubt, this paper is a key breakthrough in understanding the origin and evolution of one of the most important crops in human history.”

In recognition of the importance of his work on the evolutionary genetics of maize to both basic science and agriculture, Ross-Ibarra was awarded the National Academy of Science Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences in January of this year.

About the awards

Both recipients of this year’s faculty awards will have their names added to the award plaques outside the CBS Dean’s Office in 202 Green Hall and receive a prize of $500. The CBS Faculty Teaching and Research Awards are made possible with contributions by generous donors to the college's annual fund.

Read the full article here.