Dr. Carolyn Lawrence-Dill Joins FFAR’s Board of Directors

WASHINGTON (August 26, 2022) – The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is thrilled to announce that Dr. Carolyn Lawrence-Dill, associate dean of research and discovery for the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (CALS) at Iowa State University, is joining FFAR’s Board of Directors.

In her research role, Lawrence-Dill creates tools to automate data analysis and provide unique data storage solutions. These tools help other researchers to accomplish their research goals more efficiently. Lawrence-Dill and her team apply these computational tools to improve crop science. Specifically, the tools leverage plant genetics and genomics information to better understand basic biology and improve crops. These skills are the basis for her administrative efforts to transition the CALS research enterprise into a more data-driven paradigm.

Prior to her time at Iowa State University, Lawrence-Dill worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, where she directed the maize model organism database MaizeGDB. She also led the North American Plant Phenotyping Network, which coordinates the plant phenotyping community across North America. During her time as chair, Lawrence-Dill formally founded the organization as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity as a signature activity.

Lawrence-Dill holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Hendrix College. She earned a master’s degree in biology from Texas Tech University and a doctorate degree in botany from the University of Georgia.

“Dr. Lawrence-Dill’s impressive research background, data expertise and her contributions to advancing agriculture will be an asset to FFAR,” said Interim Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer Julie Reynes. “We are excited to have Dr. Lawrence-Dill join FFAR’s prestigious Board of Directors.”

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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

Connect: @FoundationFAR