About
Wayne Smith is a Professor and Associate Department Head specializing in Cotton Genetics at Texas A&M University. He is affiliated with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. His roles include research, teaching, and administrative leadership in plant breeding and crop sciences.
Education:
- Ph.D., University of Tennessee/Knoxville, 1974
Research Interests: Development of superior cotton germplasm and cultivars to enhance productivity, improve product quality, and reduce production costs. Research sites include College Station, Weslaco, Corpus Christi, Thrall, and Chillicothe, Texas, with collaboration at Lubbock. He focuses on agricultural advancements for Texas and U.S. cotton production.
Teaching & Administration: Teaches SCSC 311, SCSC 610, and SCSC 641. Directs the graduate program in Soil and Crop Sciences (SCSC) covering Agronomy, Soil Science, and Plant Breeding. Oversees the Distance M.S. and Ph.D. Program in Plant Breeding, a weekly seminar series involving multiple departments, and coordinates recruitment and advising for graduate students.
Scientific Awards: None explicitly listed.
Advising & Grants: Manages graduate student advising in plant breeding and administers SCSC academic affairs. Collaborates with support staff: Beth McClosky, Frances Mutscher, and Kathy Schmitt.
Labs & Teams: Associated with the Cotton Improvement Lab located in the Heep Center. Works with plant breeding faculty across SCSC, HORT, and other departments.
