Education

• B.A., Biochemical Sciences, magna cum laude, Harvard University, 1972
• M.S., Plant Breeding and Genetics, Purdue University, 1975
• Ph.D., Plant Breeding and Genetics, Purdue University, 1975
   

Past Teaching Interests

I was the primary instructor for Agronomy 815A, and B, two of three modules that comprise Introduction to Plant Breeding. These modules were the first graduate level courses that many plant breeding students took and may be the only course that students in collateral fields will take. I remain keenly interested in using web-based technology to teach graduate courses in traditional and nontraditional ways. 

Past Research Interests

I was the primary small grains breeder at the University of Nebraska until 2021. Cultivar and germplasm development are the main goals of the program. Developing improved breeding methodology, emphasizing on biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and the use of biotechnology are two of my basic research goals.  Currently, I am interested in improving the nutritional value of food and feed crops.

Past Extension and Outreach Interests

Supporting the wheat, barley, and triticale industries of Nebraska and the Great Plains.

Other Interests

Interested in international agriculture and helping humankind in developing and developed countries. Enjoy working with the seed industry—it all begins with the seed.

Past Major Project Activities
How research wheat is developed

My major emphasis was on small grains cultivar development. As such, I tested lines throughout Nebraska to determine their agronomic worth and in collaboration with others, their end-use quality. In addition, I had projects on transgene inheritance in wheat, germplasm evaluation and utilization, understanding wheat yield and agronomic performance using unique cytogenetic tools and molecular markers, and determining the genetic components that may be of value in future global climate change scenarios. My project was also committed to agriculture sustainability and profitability.

10,000 years of Sustainability

Wheat Sustainability - critical for our future, featuring Dr. Stephen Baenziger. Video produced by the Nebraska Wheat Board

Publications

Google Scholar publication list

Selected Publications (Last Four years):

Publications in Referreed Journals

• Venegas, J., Guttieri, M., Boehm, J., Graybosch, R., Bai, G., St. Amand, P. C., Palmer, N., Hussain, W., Blecha, S., & Baenziger, P. S. 2022. Genetic architecture of the high-inorganic phosphate phenotype derived from a low-phytate mutant in winter wheat. Crop Science, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20738
• Sallam, A., Shamseldeen Eltaher, Ahmad M. Alqudah, Vikas Belamkar, P. Stephen Baenziger. 2022. Combined GWAS and QTL mapping revealed candidate genes and SNP network controlling recovery and tolerance traits associated with drought tolerance in seedling winter wheat. Genomics 114:110358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110358
• Baenziger, P.S., K. A. Frels, J. Boehm, V. Belamkar, D. J. Rose, L. Xu, S. N. Wegulo, T. Regassa, A. C. Easterly, C. F. Creech, D. K. Santra, R. N. Klein, Y. Jin, J. Kolmer, M. S. Chen, M. J. Guttieri, G. Bai, I. El-Basyoni Salah, S. D. Masterson, and J. Poland. 2022.  Registration of 'Epoch' hard red winter wheat.      Journal of Plant Registrations 16(3), 613-621. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20247
• Baenziger, P.S., K. Frels, S. Greenspan, J. Jones, A. Lovegrove, et al. 2022a. A stealth health approach to dietary fibre. Nat Food. doi: 10.1038/s43016-022-00674-w.
• Elbasyoni, I.S., S. Morsy, A.M. Abdelghany, M. Naser, A.M. Mashaheet, et al. 2023. Nebraska winter wheat unexpected flowering in Egypt: New improvement opportunities. Agron J. doi: 10.1002/agj2.21243.
• Garst, N., V. Belamkar, A. Easterly, M.J. Guttieri, H. Stoll, et al. 2023. Evaluation of pollination traits important for hybrid wheat development in Great Plains germplasm. Crop Sci. doi: 10.1002/csc2.20926.
• Schneider J, K. Frels, S. Sakhale, P. Baenziger, C. Longin, J. Reif, and A. Schulthess. 2025. Reciprocal Evaluation of Hybrid Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Crosses Between German and US ‘Great Plains’ Genotypes Across Their Contrasting Target Environments.  Plant Breed 144:22-34. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.1322
• Kumssa, T.T., P.S. Baenziger, M.N. Rouse, W. Hussain, V. Belamkar, S. N. Wegulo, J. Poland. accepted. 2025. QTL mapping of stem rust resistance in a Bill Brown/Gage winter wheat population. Crop Science, 65, e21445. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21445 

Conference and Meeting Presentations

• Barley Improvement Conference, San Diego, CA January 14, 2013 presentation titled "Looking in Unexpected Places: Winter Barley in the Great Plains".  Download PDF of presentation.
• Wheat Summit in Burlington, CO February 27, 2013 presentation titled "Nebraska Wheat Varieties from a Colorado-Kansas Perspective". Download PDF of presentation.
• 8th African Crop Science Congress presentation titled "Plant Breeding in the 21st Century". Download PDF of presentation.
• Dr. Norman Borlaug: If you wonder why I became a plant breeder, it is because in my youth (and still today) I wanted to feed people. I read about the Green Revolution and the miracles that it brought. This is a short video on Dr. Norman Borlaug, a pioneer of the Green Revolution. His successes shaped the lives of humanity and those of many plant breeders. Norman Borlaug & The Green Revolution on Youtube

Former Students and Colleagues

Below is a listing of my former graduate students, post doctoral scientists, and visiting scientists. I hope you enjoy! It has been my honor to work with these fine students and scientists.

Former MS Students
Emre Karahan, 2022 (started with me, completed with Dr. Katherine Frels)
Nicole Miller, 2022 (started with me, completed with Dr. Katherine Frels)
Juan David Jimenez Pardo, 2022 (started with me, completed with Dr. Katherine Frels)
Hannah Stoll, 2019
Betul Cetindere, 2019
Nick Garst, 2017
Sumardi bin Haji Abdul Hamid, 2012
Russell Ward, 2012
Kayse Onweller, 2011
Chris Hoagland, 2009
Javed Sidiqi, 2008
Lekgari Lekgari, 2006
Ritesh Mishra, 2001
B. Todd Campbell, 1999
Mehmet Atak, 1997
Ahmet Kumlay, 1997
Mustafa Erayman, 1997
Jill E. Petrisko (McNeil), 1997
Kamil Haliloglu, 1995
Soleman Al-Otayk, 1995
Carla Wildhagen-Kimball, 1994
Masrizal, 1990
W. P. Bullock, 1982

Former Ph.D. Students
Gerardo Rivera-Collazo, 2025 (started with me, completed with Dr. Katherine Frels)
Sheryl Sierra, 2025 (started with me, completed with Dr. Katherine Frels)
Fang Wang, 2022 (started with me, completed with Drs. Katherine Frels and Stephen Wegulo)
Nicholas Garst, 2020
Madhav Bhatta, 2018
Caixia Liu, 2018
Javed Sidiqi, 2018
Jorge Venegas, 2017
Amanda Easterly, 2017
Rungravee Boontung, 2017
Waseem Madni Hussain, 2017
Juthamas Fakthongphan, 2015
Katherine Frels, 2015
Santosh Rajput, 2015
Mary Guttieri, 2014
Juan Valente Hidalgo Contraeras, 2014
Tadele Kumssa, 2014
Ali Bakhsh, 2012
Ibrahim Salah, 2012
Somrudee Nilthong (nee Onto), 2011
Nick Crowley, 2010
Anyamanee Auvuchanon, 2010
Neway Mengistu, 2010
Zakaria Al-Ajlouni, 2008
Chatuporn Kuleung, 2005
Antonio Castillo, 2004
Fufa Hundera Birru, 2004
Soleman Al-Otayk, 2004
Hikmet Budak, 2002
Yehia Mater (Deceased), 2002
B. Todd Campbell, 2002
Mustafa Erayman, 2001
Bekele Geleta Abeyo, 2000
Kamil Haliloglu, 2000
Kim Kyung Moon, 1999
Mohammed Maroof Shah, 1998
Eduardo Espitia Rangel, 1997
Masrizal, 1995
B. Moreno-Sevilla, 1994
V. Gustafson, 1994
N. Budak, 1994
L. Oberthur, 1993
W. Navvarro-Alvarez, 1992
A. Ouassou, 1991
T. Berke, 1990
V. Kepenne, 1989
T. S. Payne, 1988
 

Former Technologists
Greg Dorn
Sharmilla Mitra
Delton Dovel
Monica Norby
Bejamin Moreno-Sevilla
Jill Petrisko
Patrick Tenopir
Chris Hoagland
Jerry Bohlmann
Richard Little
Sarah Blecha

Former Research Associates (Post Doctoral Scientists)
Ibrahim El-Baysoni Salah
Vikas Belamkar, 2015-2016
Ibrahim Salah, 2012-2014
Md. Liakat Ali, 2005-2007
Mohammed Maroof Shah, 2000-2001
Jai-hoen Lee, 1997-1998
B. Moreno-Sevilla, 1994-1995
Yang Yen, 1991-1996
R. L. Simonson, 1989-1991
D. T. Kudirka, 1981-1983
M. D. Lazar, 1980-1982

Former Visiting Scientists
Dr. Odgerel Bold, 2019
Dr. Ibrahim El-Baysoni Salah, 2018-2019
Dr. Zakaria Al-Ajlouni, 2018-2019
Dr. Samira El-Manafi, 2017
Dr. Shams Eltaher, 2015-2017
Dr. Dong Puihui, 2016-2017
Dr. Mohamed Saadalla, 2015-16
Ms. Amira Mourad, 2015-2017
Dr. Ahmed Sallam, 2015-17
Dr. Hanaa Abouzeid, 2014-15
Dr. Emel Ozer, 2012-2013
Dr. MarMar El-Siddig, 2011-2012
Ms. MengYuan Wang, 2010-2012
Dr. Xinhong Chen, 2009-2010
Dr. Xiyue Song, 2009-2010
Dr. Munir Turk, 2008-2009
Dr. Abid Mahmood, 2003-2004
Mr. Sahin Dere, 2001-2002
Dr. Galal El Sherbeny, 2000
Mr. Fufa Hundera Birru, 1999
Ms. Miriam Kinuya, 1998
Ms. Gendi Wu, 1992-1993
Mr. Ismail Ozer, 1992
Mr. Ouyang Jun-Wen, 1991-1992
Mr. Fawzy Fathy Saad, 1991
Mr. Jan Rybczynski, 1990-1991
Mr. Yuan Han-min, 1989-1990