An Endowment for the Future

Kent J. Bradford
Endowed Chair in Seed Science

To make a gift to the endowment, click here.

2018 Annual Report

UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center Annual Report 2018

Catch up on the latest news about SBC staff, courses, and upcoming events

An Endowment for the Future

Kent J. Bradford
Endowed Chair in Seed Science

To make a gift to the endowment, click here.

2018 Annual Report

Catch up on the latest news about SBC staff, courses, and upcoming events

Welcome to the SBC

The mission of the Seed Biotechnology Center (SBC) is to mobilize the research, educational and outreach resources of UC Davis in partnership with the seed and biotechnology industries to facilitate discovery and commercialization of new seed technologies for agricultural and consumer benefit.

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Executive Director | Seed Biotechnology Center • UC Davis

The Seed Biotechnology Center (SBC) is a focal point for interaction between the seed industry and the research and educational resources of the UC Davis. It coordinates research to address problems of interest to the seed industry and provides continuing education in seed biology and technology. Its mission is to mobilize the research, educational and outreach resources of the University of California, in partnership with the seed and plant biotechnology industries, to facilitate discovery and commercialization of new seed technologies for agricultural and consumer benefit.

The Seed Biotechnology Center is currently looking to fill the position of Executive Director (Academic Administrator classification).

The Executive Director (Academic Administrator) will have global administration and management responsibilities for all education and outreach activities of the SBC, including budgetary development and oversight, administration of all academic and staff personnel, and programmatic development. This position will require an extensive knowledge of all the scientific components of plant breeding and first-hand experience in working with the global seed and plant science industries.

Academic Administrator will be responsible for a broad range of policy-level administrative and programmatic activities for the SBC and provide leadership in short- and long-range planning.

For more information on the position and application process, please visit https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF03294

Assistant/Associate Professor of Plant Sciences with emphasis in Plant Reproductive Biology
Department of Plant Sciences • UC Davis

The Department of Plant Sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis is recruiting an Assistant/Associate Professor of Plant Sciences with an emphasis in Plant Reproductive Biology.

This is an academic-year (9-month), position that includes an appointment in the California Agricultural Experiment Station. The successful candidate will be a member, and will eventually have a leadership role at the Seed Biotechnology Center (sbc.ucdavis.edu), which is dedicated to engagement with the global seed industry and delivery of world-leading training in plant breeding. Significant collaborative opportunities exist with departmental expertise in plant breeding, crop production and management, plant physiology, post-harvest biology and technology and plant and environmental sensing. There is an outstanding opportunity to collaborate across the campus with colleagues in Plant Biology with the Plant Breeding Center and with other expert groups, including California’s extension and farm advisors located across the state.

Full details and application information are available on-line at: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF03338

To ensure consideration, applications should be received by February 29, 2020.

News & Updates

Study Finds Indigenous Mexican Variety of Corn Captures the Nitrogen It Needs from the Air

A team of researchers including SBC Director of Research, Dr. Allen Van Deynze and Cristobal Heitmann, discover an indigenous variety of corn that can “fix nitrogen” from the atmosphere, instead of requiring synthetic fertilizers. Cristobal Heitman, “Cris”, was a beloved member of the UC Davis Plant Sciences Department. Cris’s energy and enthusiasm were a major catalyst in this research. Read more.

Allen Van Deynze participates in Introduction to Food Innovation video discussion, hosted by the World Food Center

Pamela Ronald and Allen Van Deynze (both UC Davis) participated in a Facebook live video discussion as part of an e-conference held earlier this Fall and hosted by the Institute of Science and Global Policy
TOPIC: Introduction to Food Innovation
This discussion session was hosted by the World Food Center at UC Davis #NextGenFood
https://www.facebook.com/isgpforum/videos/434312467219513/

The SBC celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year!
We are appreciating the past and looking forward. On September 12, 2019 at the International Center, UC Davis,the SBC hosted a day-long event with panels highlighting researchers, students, industry representatives and policy makers. The day concluded with Seed Central’s monthly networking event.

EVENT SCHEDULE: Flier (PDF) • Print-friendly version

SBC highlights a successful year in 2018 Annual Report

The SBC is proud and excited to announce the release of our 2018 Annual Report! Read all about our numerous outreach, research and educational activities over the past year. It has been a busy and productive one! Read Report

SBC Director Kent Bradford featured on UC ANR's weekly video

Kent Bradford was featured on UC ANR's weekly veggie video "Seed and Variety Improvement". He discusses the importance of seed development and breeding to the California vegetable seed industry, as well as the technical complexities and rigors involved in vegetable seed production, particularly with hybrid seeds. View Video

SBC researchers receive Science Translation and Innovative Research (STAIR™) Grant award

SBC Research Director Allen Van Deyzne and Researcher Theresa Hill have received a Science Translation and Innovative Research (STAIR™) Grant award for “Enabling the Mechanical Harvesting of Peppers”. Congratulations Allen and Theresa!
Read more and View Video

SBC Master's Student Samantha Hilbourn visits Washington

UC Davis Plant Sciences Students Samantha Hilborn and Carolina Vaquerano Attend Congressional Visits Day

Samantha Hilborn, an M.S. student working with SBC Research Director Allen Van Deynze, participated in the annual Congressional Visits Day program organized by the Crop Science Society of America, held in Washington D.C. She visited Congressman Jimmy Panetta, a strong supporter of agricultural research. Read more

SBC graduate student Cris Heitmann passed away on April 17, 2018 in a bicycle accident. He will be profoundly missed by colleagues, friends and family.
Learn more about Cris • Cris Heitmann
Scholarship Fund

Upcoming Courses & Events

Seed Production
Date: February 10, 2020 - February 13, 2020

View Event Details

Event Name

Date

Plant Breeding Academy in Davis - Class VII Session 5

2/3/2020

Seed Production

2/10/2020

European Plant Breeding Academy - Class VI Session 2

3/9/2020

Plant Breeding Academy in Davis - Class VII Session 6

6/1/2020

Seed Biology and Quality

6/16/2020

European Plant Breeding Academy - Class VI Session 3

6/22/2020

Seed Business 101 Field Crops

8/17/2020

Davis Plant Breeding Academy - Class VIII

9/14/2020

European Plant Breeding Academy - Class VI Session 4

10/5/2020

Hemp Breeding and Seed Production

10/27/2020

European Plant Breeding Academy - Class V Session 5

3/1/2021

View More Events

Kent Bradford highlighted in Seed World magazine, September 2015

featured in
Seed World Magazine
Two plant sciences professors-- Kent Bradford and Gurdev Khush are among SEED WORLD magazines's picks for its list of 100 most transformational men and women in the seed industry in the last 100 years.

EUROPEAN SEED named SBC Education Director, Rale Gjuric, one of 20 most influential seed people. Read more.