معرفی
Shaun Townsend is an Associate Professor (Senior Research) in the Department of Crop and Soil Science at Oregon State University's College of Agriculture. He leads the Aroma Hop Breeding Program focused on developing new hop cultivars adapted to Oregon's growing conditions, emphasizing essential oil quality for the craft beer industry. The program collaborates closely with Dr. Tom Shellhammer's Food Science & Technology group and USDA-ARS geneticist Dr. John Henning, integrating molecular biology into hop breeding. Their first cultivar release was 'STRATA', with additional cultivars in development.
Education includes:
- Ph.D. in Agronomy Plant Breeding and Genetics from New Mexico State University (1998)
- M.S. in Agronomy Plant Breeding and Forage Production from Montana State University (1990)
- B.S. in Agronomy from Montana State University (1988)
Research interests span hop breeding, plant genetics, crop science optimization, essential oil biochemistry, and molecular marker applications. His work examines how agronomic practices affect essential oil profiles and develops disease-resistant cultivars using genomic tools.
Publications (2013-2021) demonstrate consistent focus on hop genetics, disease resistance (powdery/downy mildew), environmental stress responses, and cultivar development. Recent work emphasizes genome-wide association studies, precision QTL mapping, and terroir influences on hop quality.
Service activities include:
- Oregon Representative for the national Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee
- College of Agriculture Variety Review Committee
- Crop & Soil Science Promotion and Tenure Committee
- Cereal Variety Review Committee
Laboratory leadership includes directing the Aroma Hop Breeding Program and collaborative projects with USDA-ARS on molecular breeding techniques.
