What's New
New Chair Named for Plant Agriculture
September 15, 2010
Prof. Peter Pauls has been appointed to the position of Chair of the Department of Plant Agriculture. In this role, he will work to enhance the department’s academic programs and administrative leadership capacity as well as focus on external relations and excellence in research and service. The appointment is for a five-year term, effective immediately.
The announcement was made by OAC dean Rob Gordon, who chaired the search committee.
“I am very pleased to welcome Dr. Pauls to OAC’s executive team,” said Gordon. “He is a passionate researcher and educator who brings an outstanding record of scholarly accomplishments to his new role. His commitment to excellence and tremendous leadership skills will be enormously helpful for the department through this period of transformation and growth.”
Gordon extended his thanks to Prof. Dave Wolyn, who has served as acting department chair through the search process, as well as to members of the selection committee for their assistance and support.
Prof. K. Peter Pauls has been a faculty member in Plant Agriculture since 1983, and is widely known for his research in the development and application of molecular biology and tissue culture techniques to crop improvement. He has published 122 refereed papers and 15 book chapters, selected 10 bean lines supported for variety registration from 2006-2010, and submitted more than 200 gene sequences to Genbank. His research programs are supported through NSERC, OMAFRA and a variety of other industry and government groups.
Pauls is an associate editor of the Canadian Journal of Plant Science, past president of the Canadian Association of Plant Physiologists, and served as acting associate dean (academic) of OAC from 2006 to 2009. He has developed and taught numerous courses for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students, and advised more than 30 graduate students.
“I look forward to working in this new administrative role, with Plant Agriculture faculty, staff and students, to develop educational, research and service activities that will benefit our department and its members, the College and the University as well as our local, national and international communities,” said Pauls.
The Department of Plant Agriculture encompasses applied bioinformatics and molecular genetics; field horticultural and greenhouse crops; plant breeding; turf and grassland studies; environmental sustainability; and the post-harvest application of biomaterials for food, health products, fibres and industrial products. With annual expenditures of $9.3 million (2008/09), the department supports 36 faculty, 39 permanent staff, 60 contract staff, and over 100 graduate students who are concentrated primarily at the Guelph campus and Ridgetown campuses as well as research stations at Muck, Simcoe and Vineland.
