Sherry Flint-Garcia

Dr. Sherry Flint-Garcia is a Research Geneticist and Lead Scientist at the USDA-ARS and an Adjunct Professor in the Division of Plant Sciences within the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. Her work bridges agricultural research and academia, focusing on the genetic foundations of maize domestication, breeding, and kernel traits.

Research Interests: Her lab investigates the genetic diversity of maize, particularly how artificial selection during domestication and modern breeding has shaped traits related to adaptation, inbreeding, and kernel composition (protein, oil, starch, amino acids). A major goal is to reintegrate lost genetic variation from landraces and teosinte into modern breeding programs to enhance food quality, flavor, aroma, and texture in corn.

Research Resources: The lab utilizes advanced germplasm populations including the maize Nested Association Mapping (NAM) population (5,000 RILs), ten teoNIL populations (~900 NILs), and doubled haploid lines from Zea Synthetic to conduct QTL mapping, association studies, and selection analyses.

Scientific Awards:

• L. Stadler Mid-Career Maize Genetics Award (2025)
• David Dunn Award in Plant Biology, University of Missouri (2023)

Advising and Grants: While specific students are not listed, Dr. Flint-Garcia leads an active research lab supported by federal and institutional funding, mentoring graduate students and researchers in plant genetics and breeding. Her projects integrate genomics, quantitative genetics, and breeding to develop novel food corn varieties with improved sensory and nutritional qualities.

Labs and Teams: She leads the Flint-Garcia Lab, which is affiliated with the USDA-ARS, the Interdisciplinary Plant Group, the Missouri Maize Center, and the Maize Genetics Cooperation. These collaborations enhance interdisciplinary research in plant science and maize genetics.