Fikret Isik

Prof. Fikret Isik is a Professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University, within the College of Natural Resources. His research focuses on genomic selection, forest tree breeding, and disease resistance mechanisms in conifers, particularly loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). He leads projects funded by USDA NIFA, NC Department of Agriculture, and others, totaling over $8M in grants.

• Expertise: Quantitative genetics, plant pathology, bioenergy feedstocks, climate adaptation
• Key Projects: Fusiform rust resistance genomics, genomic selection implementation, biomass production optimization
• International collaborations: Pine SNP Chip Consortium, Eucalyptus breeding programs

Research spans from molecular genetics to large-scale field trials, emphasizing practical applications in tree improvement. Major contributions include developing genomic tools for accelerated breeding cycles and predicting climate change impacts on forest productivity.

Grants include USDA-funded studies on race-non-specific disease resistance and DOE-supported cell wall biosynthesis modeling. His work bridges academia and industry via training programs (e.g., AS-REML short-course for PepsiCo).

Labs/Teams: Cooperative Tree Improvement Program (CTIP), Genomics & Breeding Lab