معرفی
Margaret Elizabeth Smith is a Professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science (Plant Breeding and Genetics Section) and the Department of Global Development at Cornell University. She also serves as Associate Dean and Director of the Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station (Cornell AES). Her work focuses on maize breeding for productivity, organic systems, and tropical agricultural challenges. She holds a B.S. (1978) and Ph.D. (1982) from Cornell.
Her research emphasizes improving corn varieties for New York growing conditions, enhancing resistance to pests/diseases, and supporting small-scale farmers globally. She leads the New York Seed Improvement Program and has extensive extension experience, including educational programs on crop varieties and genetic engineering. Awards include the 2015 Outstanding Faculty Award from CALS.
Smith’s career includes roles as Associate Director of Cornell AES (2008–2020) and Cornell Cooperative Extension (1998–2001). She taught crop breeding at Cornell for 15 years and previously worked in Latin America at key agricultural research centers. Her global contributions span plant breeding strategies for sustainable agriculture and gender-responsive legume breeding initiatives in Africa.
