Carroll named director of Phenomics for Purdue Agriculture
March 10, 2015
 |
|
April Carroll |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Plant geneticist April Agee Carroll has been named director of Phenomics for the Purdue University College of Agriculture under the Plant Sciences Research and Education Pipeline initiative.
Karen Plaut, senior associate dean for research and faculty affairs for Purdue Agriculture, announced the appointment this month. Carroll started the position remotely and will arrive on the West Lafayette campus June 1.
Carroll, whose resume includes a number of research awards, most recently served as the Controlled Environments Research and Technology Development Lead for DuPont Pioneer in Johnston, Iowa. She holds a Ph.D. in plant science with focuses in cell biology, genetics, and molecular biology from the University of California, Riverside where she studied under distinguished professor Natasha Raikhel.
In her new role, Carroll will work with researchers to enable them to take advantage of new high-throughput technology developed for plant phenotyping, or identifying and measuring plant characteristics. Purdue Agriculture is expanding its capacity in this area through new laboratory and greenhouse facilities and a new Automated Field Phenotyping and Seed Processing building at the college's Agronomy Farm for Research and Education.
Plaut said Carroll's experience makes her well suited to lead Purdue Agriculture's phenomics efforts.
"We are thrilled to have April join our new initiative," Plaut said. "She has an exceptional record of research and service for DuPont Pioneer and her understanding of plant phenotyping will allow us to take immediate advantage of our investments in the plant sciences. In addition, April's combination of collegiality and experience will allow her to be a catalyst for the next scientific breakthroughs.
"Phenomics is an integral part of the Plant Sciences Research and Education Pipeline initiative and we are looking forward to seeing just how far we can go with April at the helm."
The Plant Sciences Research and Education Pipeline initiative is one of the Purdue Moves initiatives. Purdue Moves, which includes a range of initiatives university-wide, was introduced by President Mitch Daniels to broaden the university's global impact and enhance educational opportunities for students.
Carroll said several things drew her to Purdue, including the Plant Sciences Research and Education Pipeline initiative, pre-existing interest and engagement on campus in precision phenotyping, and the types of research she will be involved with.
"I'm most excited about the opportunity to collaborate widely in both basic science and applied biology," she said. "I aim to integrate greenhouse and field phenomics into a systems biology platform that will allow researchers to generate more meaningful data and scientific goals.
"I look forward to diverse research opportunities that will allow me to deliver on my vision for applying cutting-edge technology from industry to the forefront of discovery at Purdue."
Writer: Jennifer Stewart, 765-494-6682, jsstewar@purdue.edu
Sources: Karen Plaut, 765-494-8362, kplaut@purdue.edu
April Agee Carroll, aprilcarroll@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page
