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Dr. Jeffrey Endelman is an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and leads the university potato breeding program. He is a co-developer of 16 potato varieties and several software packages for genomics-assisted breeding, including rrBLUP, GWASpoly, polyBreedR, and diaQTL. Endelman has co-authored 35 publications and served on the graduate thesis committees of 26 students. He is a member of the editorial boards for Genetics, Theoretical and Applied Genetics, and The Plant Genome. |
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Dr. Greg Porter has served on the faculty at the University of Maine for 35 years. His research program covers applied potato breeding, potato variety development, agronomy, and crop physiology. Porter teaches a graduate class in Experimental Design and until recently, an undergraduate Crop Ecology and Physiology class. His Agronomy Ph.D. is from Penn State and it focused on Crop Physiology. |
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Dr. Laura Shannon is an assistant professor of potato breeding genetics and genomics in the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota. Her background is in computational population and quantitative genetics and she has worked on a variety of systems including corn and dogs. In her current role, she applies that experience to elucidate potato diversity and domestication as well as developing new potato varieties for Minnesota growers. She breeds fresh market (red and yellow) and processing (chips and russet) potatoes at the diploid and tetraploid levels. As part of this project, Laura is excited to implement genomic selection across her tetraploid breeding program. |
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Dr. E. Han Tan is a plant geneticist at the University of Maine and is working with the Maine Potato Enhancement and Improvement Program to implement genomic selection in potato breeding. |
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Dr. Isabel Vales leads the Texas A&M potato breeding program. She combines conventional and molecular tools to enhance the efficiency of potato breeding efforts and to maximize genetic gains from the selection. Isabel participated in the release of more than 20 potato varieties, including specialty types with high levels of antioxidants, and published 70 referee papers. She has been active in undergraduate and graduate teaching (potato production, plant physiology, molecular breeding) and training. |
