Dr. Lamkey, former Director of the R.F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding and current Department of Agronomy Chair, has been awarded the 2020 National Association of Plant Breeding (NAPB) Public Sector Plant Breeding Impact award. This NAPB Award recognizes an individual whose accomplishments as a scientist in the public sector have had extraordinary impact in the field of plant breeding in areas such as research, technological innovation, germplasm development, cultivar release, education, and leadership.

Dr. Lamkey earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. degree from Iowa State University (ISU) in plant breeding and genetics. As Chair of the Department of Agronomy at ISU, he provides leadership and direction in the areas of education, research, and extension. His research program focuses on corn breeding, particularly on the quantitative genetics of selection response, inbreeding depression and heterosis. Dr. Lamkey has been major advisor for 18 Ph.D. and 10 M.S. students, while serving as program of study committee member for more than 80 graduate students. He has authored and co-authored 81 refereed publications, and numerous conference proceedings, book chapters, abstracts, and technical reports. Dr. Lamkey served as the second Director of the R.F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding from 2003 to 2007.

Additional information about the award can be found in the Department of Agronomy News Release.