In January, the University of Illinois announced that five faculty from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) faculty members had been named university endowed chairs or professors, an honor awarded to highly distinguished scholars for excellence in research, teaching, and service. Among them was RIPE PI Andrew Leakey. He was asked to describe how the honors will affect his work and career.

Leakey, Head of the Plant Biology Department, has been named the Michael Aiken Chair. He noted the significance of the award, named for former Illinois Chancellor Michael Aiken.

“I am grateful to be the latest beneficiary of that investment in our faculty,” Leakey said.

Leakey is an internationally recognized leader in genomic ecology and global change biology. His research explores agricultural ecosystems and plant water efficiency through studying plant biology, physiology, and photosynthesis. It includes manipulating the genetic makeup of plants through biotechnology and breeding to learn more about crops and improve food production.

Leakey’s research also looks specifically at plants in the context of global change, especially drought, and adapting to change. It helps understand and bring solutions to the worldwide issue of food insecurity.

“The named position will help me accomplish my career goals of developing crops that are more productive, sustainable, and resilient in providing fuel, food, and other clean bio-based products,” Leakey said.

Leakey is director of the Center for Advance Bioenergy & Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), a professor in plant biology, a professor in the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, and an affiliate professor in crop sciences.

 

For a full list of the honored professors, check out the original LAS article, “Making room for ideas and innovation: Professors describe how endowed positions expand possibilities for research and scholarship” by David Evensen.