National Academy of Sciences Elects UC Davis Maize Geneticist Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra
Evolutionary Geneticist Studies How Maize Adapted and Spread Across the Globe
The National Academy of Sciences has elected Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra, professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at University of California, Davis, as a member. His election was announced April 28.
Ross-Ibarra is one of 120 members and 25 international members elected this year in recognition of distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Membership in the academy is considered one of the highest honors a scientist can achieve.
Ross-Ibarra studies the evolutionary genetics, adaptation and domestication of maize and its wild relatives. His research combines field studies, laboratory experiments and computational modeling to investigate how natural selection, genetic drift and environmental change shape genetic diversity in plant populations.
By studying how maize has adapted to environments ranging from tropical regions to high-altitude and northern climates, Ross-Ibarra aims to identify traits that could help crops remain productive under future climate conditions. His research has broad implications for crop resilience and agricultural sustainability.
Much of his work focuses on using evolutionary history to better understand how crops may respond to future environmental pressures. By examining how maize adapted to different climates and growing conditions over thousands of years, his work on naturally occurring genetic variation could help crops withstand heat, drought and other climate-related challenges.