Draft:Andrew H. Paterson

Andrew H. Paterson is a Regents Professor at the University of Georgia (UGA), where he directs the Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory (PGML). His research focuses on plant genetics, genomics, and evolution, with significant contributions to the understanding of crop species such as sorghum,cotton, other economic crops and Evolution.

Education and Early Career

Paterson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in plant science from the University of Delaware. He then pursued graduate studies at Cornell University, obtaining both his Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in plant genetics. Following his doctoral work, Paterson conducted postdoctoral research with Steven Tanksley at Cornell. He began his professional career at the E. I. DuPont Company in crop biotechnology and served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Delaware. In 1991, he joined Texas A&M University, where he was appointed to the Christine Richardson Endowed Professorship in 1996. Paterson moved to UGA in 1999. SelectBioSciences

Research Contributions

At UGA, Paterson leads the PGML, a joint unit of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. His laboratory has been instrumental in sequencing the genomes of key crop species, including sorghum and cotton. Paterson's work has provided insights into plant genome organization, polyploidy, and the evolutionary history of angiosperms. His research has also contributed to the genetic analysis of agriculturally important traits, aiding in crop improvement efforts. SelectBioSciences

Honors and Awards

In recognition of his contributions to plant genomics, Paterson was named a Regents Professor at UGA, effective July 1, 2012. This title is awarded by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents to distinguished faculty whose scholarship is recognized nationally and internationally. SelectBioSciences Additionally, he received the D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in Research in 2005. Dwbrooks

Publications and Citations

Paterson has authored or co-authored over 200 refereed publications, contributing significantly to the fields of plant genetics and genomics. His work has garnered more than 89,000 citations, reflecting the impact of his research on the scientific community. Google Scholar Recent Developments

In recent years, Paterson's research has continued to focus on the genetic improvement of crops. For instance, he has been involved in projects aiming to enhance cotton fiber quality by identifying genes that affect fiber length, which can lead to softer fabrics and higher market value for farmers. Plant Biology

Through his leadership at the PGML and his extensive research contributions, Andrew H. Paterson remains a prominent figure in plant genomics, advancing both scientific understanding and practical applications in agriculture.

Major Research Projects and Grants

   Sorghum Genome Sequencing: Paterson served as the Principal Investigator (PI) on a non-cash award estimated at $8 million from the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute Community Sequencing Program to sequence the 736 Mb sorghum genome.
   Plant Biology

   Cotton Genome Sequencing: He led efforts to sequence the cotton genome, securing two non-cash awards estimated at $2 million to initiate the sequencing of Gossypium raimondii.
   Plant Biology

   Sorghum Drought Tolerance: As PI, Paterson received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the project "Discovery and development of alleles contributing to sorghum drought tolerance" (10/08–9/11).
   Plant Biology

   Arabidopsis Gene Evolution: He was PI on the NSF-funded project "The evolution of gene position and function in Arabidopsis" (10/08–9/12).
   Plant Biology

   Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics of Cotton: Paterson led this NSF-funded project from 1/09 to 12/13.
   Plant Biology

   Scaling a New Adaptive Peak for Cotton: He served as PI on this NSF-Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) project (9/09–8/12).
   Plant Biology

   Plant Genome Duplication Database: Paterson was PI on this NSF-DBI-funded project (9/09–8/12).
   Plant Biology

   Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Climate-Resilient Sorghum: In 2013, Paterson led an international team awarded a $4.98 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development to enhance sorghum production through sustainable intensification and improved drought resilience.
   UGA Newswire

   Cotton and Peanut Improvement: In 2018, Paterson and colleagues received a $935,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to breed softer cotton and more resilient peanuts.
   UGA Newswire

Funding Overview

Throughout his career, Paterson has secured $28.2 million in funding, including $18.5 million as Principal Investigator (40% of which supported his colleagues) and $9.7 million as co-investigator on awards totaling $38.1 million to his colleagues. He has also secured two competitive training grants of $108,000 (PI) and $1.6 million (co-PI), one regional economic development grant ($600,000), and has helped 37 scholars secure $1.24 million to study in his lab. Plant Biology

Paterson's leadership in these projects has significantly advanced the field of plant genomics, contributing to the development of more resilient and productive crop varieties.

Source https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Mg6DKKwAAAAJ&hl=en

https://newswire.caes.uga.edu/expert/11/andrew-h-paterson.html

https://www.gf.org/fellows/andrew-h-paterson/

https://staging.icac.org/tech/ICAC-Researcher-of-the-Year-Award/2012-Andrew-Paterson

https://www.cottongen.org/icgi/member/5172/profile

https://dwbrooks.caes.uga.edu/award-recipients/excellence-in-research/andrew-paterson.html