Skip to main content
profile photo

Stephen Kresovich

Vice Provost

Primary Research Areas

  • genomics

Graduate Fields

Research Focus

My research objectives are: (1) to identify regions of the sorghum and maize genomes which have been fixed through evolution, domestication, or crop improvement and associate these selective sweeps with useful types and traits, (2) to characterize and understand the relationship between DNA sequence variation and desirable phenotype, (3) to identify both conserved sequences across grass/grain families and genera and rapidly evolving sequences between species and individuals to predict gene diversity and function, (4) to characterize molecular diversity of sorghum and maize in natural populations, landraces, and elite germplasm, and (5) to develop and test strategies to efficiently discover, conserve, and use variation in natural populations and genebank collections by integrating current advances in genomics, bioinformatics, and plant genetics/breeding. In support of Cornell University`s commitment to global conservation and agricultural initiatives, I serve as Director of the Institute for Genomic Diversity.

Educational Background

Bachelor's Degree
Washington & Jefferson
1974

Master's Degree
Texas a & M Univ
1977

Doctorate
Ohio State Univ
1982

Research Grants

  • CORNELL UNIVERSITY - LIFE SCIENCES
  • SEED GRANTS - 2007
  • GENETIC DISSECTION OF BROWN MIDRIB SWEET SORGHUM, A DUAL-SOURCE FEEDSTOCK FOR ETHANOL PRODUCTIONS
  • ENHANCING CAROTENOID ACCUMULATION IN STAPLE CROPS
  • SORGHUM BIOMASS / FEEDSTOCK GENOMICS RESEARCH FOR BIOENERGY
  • PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF SORGHUM BICOLOR CARATENOID ENDOSPERM CONTENT
  • JOHNSON & JOHNSON - CORNELL UNIVERSITY BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCE SEED GRANTS
  • VCA: MOLECULAR AND FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY IN THE MAIZE GENOME
  • CENTER FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY: CENTER FOR ECONOMIC APPLICATIONS OF LIFE SCIENCES
  • TAILORING SUPERIOR ALLELS FOR ABIOTIC STRESS: A CASE STUDY BASED ON ASSOCIATION ANALYSIS OF ALTSB, A MAJOR ALUMINUM TOLERANCE GENE IN SORGHUM
  • ASSOCIATION MAPPING IN CROP PLANTS
  • DISSECTION OF MAIZE KERNEL QUALITY, ALUMINUM AND NITROGEN TOLERANCE
  • MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
  • CONSORTIUM FOR THE GENERATION CHALLENGE PROGRAM: CULTIVATING PLANT DIVERSITY FOR THE RESOURCE POOR