Robert Schmitz named a 2026 UGA Distinguished Research Professor
March 27, 2026 — UGA Today Part of the same spring Honors Week announcement — recognized for developing genome-wide approaches to plant epigenomics.
C. Robin Buell named 2026 SEC Professor of the Year
March 24, 2026 — UGA Today The SEC's highest faculty honor, recognizing scholarly excellence in teaching, research and service. Buell is the fourth UGA faculty member to receive it.
Jill Anderson named a 2026 UGA Creative Research Medalist
March 27, 2026 — UGA Today Recognized for a decade-plus field study on how climate change affects genetic adaptation in a Rocky Mountain wildflower — work that's reshaped thinking on extinction risk and assisted migration.
Robert Schmitz elected to the National Academy of Sciences
April 29, 2026 — UGA Today / Department of Genetics Schmitz, professor in the Department of Genetics, was elected in recognition of his work on plant epigenomics — how DNA methylation shapes gene regulation in crops. This brings UGA's NAS membership to 19.
Soraya Bertioli receives 2025 Agriscience Award for Excellence in Research
Agriscience Award for Excellence in Research
Scott Merkle receives 2025 Lamar Dodd Creative Research Award
Scott Merkle - Lamar Dodd Creative Research Award 2025
Rhuanito Ferrarezi named 2025 Outstanding Graduate Educator Award from ASHS
https://ashs.org/page/OutstandingGraduate
Plant Center Summer Lunch Series June 13-July 31, 2025
A Summer Lunch Series for Professional Development with Plant Center Students and Faculty 2025 Summer Lunch Series Flyer
Bhabesh Dutta receives 2025 Syngenta APS Award
https://www.apsnet.org/members/give-awards/awards/Syngenta/Pages/BhabeshDutta.aspx
Melissa Mitchum named 2025 APS Fellow
https://www.apsnet.org/members/give-awards/awards/Fellows/Pages/MelissaMitchum.aspx