Ramsey Lewis

Ramsey Lewis is the Charles and Marilyn Stuber Distinguished Professor of Plant Breeding and a University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University. He is affiliated with the Tobacco Breeding & Genetics department, focusing on genetics, plant breeding, and molecular biology in Nicotiana species. His research emphasizes improving plant breeding methodologies, understanding disease resistance mechanisms, and manipulating plant chemistry to reduce harmful alkaloids. Lewis leads the U.S. Nicotiana Germplasm Collection and the CORESTA Series of Smokeless Tobacco Reference Products, critical resources for global tobacco research.

His work integrates advanced techniques such as plant transformation, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, and genomic selection. Notable areas include minimizing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), enhancing resistance to pathogens like Phytophthora nicotianae, and optimizing alkaloid biosynthesis pathways. Recent studies explore the role of BBL enzymes in nicotine metabolism and automated nematode detection using machine learning.

Publications highlight advancements in reducing nicotine levels, improving crop resilience, and refining tobacco genetics. Lewis teaches CS 413: Introduction to Plant Breeding and collaborates on projects addressing global agricultural challenges, such as nitrogen utilization efficiency and transgenic crop validation.

No scientific awards are explicitly listed, but his contributions to tobacco science are widely recognized. Advising details are not provided, though his research involves graduate student involvement. His lab’s germplasm collection and reference products support broader academic and industrial efforts in crop improvement.