The Texas Tech University College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources today announced the creation of the $500,000 Bayer CropScience Endowed Professorship, a shared initiative between Bayer CropScience and the Regents of the University.

The endowment will enable the college to expand its work in the molecular genetic enhancement of major crops with an emphasis on cotton. Genomics is the study of how genes are arranged on chromosomes and how they function and interact to impact plant growth and development.

“With this professorship, the college can recruit a recognized scholar to the Department of Plant and Soil Science,” said Dr. Marvin Cepica, dean of the college. “Genomics allows scientists to effectively use genes to improve traits such as plant production and to enhance the quality of the crops, all vital to the continued success of our crop producers across the country.”

The professorship was presented by Dr. Mike Gilbert, global cotton manager of Bayer CropScience.

“Bayer CropScience is proud to partner with Texas Tech University to fund this professorship in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources,” said Gilbert. “Continued U.S. excellence in cotton breeding requires constant innovation. The research and scholarship arising from this new faculty position will be an important contribution to cotton production and will help to educate scientists who are critical to industry’s future. Bayer CropScience and Texas Tech University see this as an important investment in cotton’s future contribution to agriculture”.

Bayer CropScience, through its FiberMax® cotton seed brand, is the second largest cotton seed supplier in the United States. Bayer CropScience LP is the United States business of Bayer CropScience, which has its global headquarters in Monheim, Germany. The company is a world leader in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology.

The professorship is one of several established under the Texas Tech University System Regents Faculty Endowment Program. The program is part of the university’s goal of recruiting and retaining quality faculty members.