Jan Dvorak

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Plant Sciences, 1972
• Ing., Johan Gregor Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic; Plant Sciences, 1966

Research interests and expertise: 

Dr. Dvorakís research interests are plant cytogenetics, genomics, molecular biology, and evolution. He has published more than 220 peer-reviewed research papers, reviews, and book chapters.

His primary interest is in the structure and evolution of plant genomes. He is interested in the genetics of wheat domestication, its improvement by introgression, and genetic improvement of wheat tolerance of salinity. Dvorak is also interested in walnut genome structure and evolution and walnut genetic improvement.

Current projects: 

• Sequencing the Aegilops tauschii genome
• Discovery of the genetic determinant of the lateral bearing trait in walnut
• Introgression to wheat and candidate gene discovery for resistance gene Fhb7
• Putting phenotypic and genotypic tools to work for improving walnut rootstocks

Current teaching: 

• Genes and Gene Expression; BIS 101, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Prizes, Awards, Honors:

• International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium Outstanding Leadership Award, 2016
• Honorary Professor of Johan Gregor Mendel University at Brno, Czech Republic, 2005
• Ninth International Barley Genetics Symposium Award, 2004
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1998
• Distinguished Graduate in Agriculture Award, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, 1986
• Visiting Scholar Fellowship, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia; 1981

Keywords:

• Genome sequencing
• Grass genomes
• Wheat evolution
• Wheat genome
• Wheat domestication
• Walnut genome
• Salinity tolerance