Susan R. McCouch PhD ’90, is an associate professor of plant breeding with a joint appointment in plant biology, and a special appointment in International Agriculture Programs. Prior to joining the faculty at Cornell she was an associate geneticist in the Department of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biochemistry with the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines.

As a path-breaking graduate student, McCouch and colleagues generated the first molecular map of the rice genome. With her student Edie Paul, in 1993 she created the first publicly available comparative plant genome database, enabling cereal researchers to readily share research results with colleagues throughout the world. She pioneered the use of QTL analysis in rice and was a key participant in the exploration of synteny among the grasses: the idea that genes of wheat, rice, corn, sorghum, and other grasses are arranged in the same order on the chromosomes.

She has pioneered the combining of cultivated rice with closely related weeds to identify useful traits that can improve yield and characteristics like drought and disease resistance. From this pioneering start, McCouch established herself as a founding member of the rice genomics community and remains a key figure. In doing so, she has created the worldwide reputation for Cornell as a center of excellence for rice genomics research. In the 18 years since the development of the first molecular map, scientists have completely sequenced the genome of rice and as a result, are now using rice as a model system for research on all cereals.

In addition to McCouch’s research, she has produced more than 100 refereed publications and many more informal papers. McCouch has a deep commitment to the mission and values of Cornell as evidenced by these publications, numerous research grants she has secured (in excess of $150,000), and the countless students she has mentored. McCouch has trained many of the bright young scientists from developing countries who become part of her network of collaborators.

She was recognized as the 2002/2003 Outstanding Mentor of Winners of Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science, and Technology ($100,000 prize), was elected as a fellow to the National Academy of Sciences in 2004, and most recently was awarded a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Cornell President Hunter R. Rawlings III identified McCouch as an example of the university’s outstanding faculty during his commencement speech in 2001. McCouch is widely acknowledged by students as someone who represents a positive force in their lives; and was recognized by the college with the Young Faculty Teaching Excellence Award in 1996.

At the request of Dean Susan Henry, McCouch is now leading a university-wide review of the plant sciences on campus, including research, teaching, and service. In addition to this, she also serves on various committees that review grant applications from many organizations including the NSF (Plant Genome Program), NRI/USDA (Plant Genetic Mechanisms/Plant Genome Programs), BARD (Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund), and the Center for Advanced Technology at Cornell (CAT). McCouch is an associate editor of the journal Genetics and was previously a member of the advisory board of The Plant Journal. She is a reviewer for Science, Nature, Genetics, The Plant Cell, Plant Physiology, Theoretical and Applied Genetics, and countless other professional journals.

McCouch’s work on the world’s major food crop (rice) places her among the ranks of the world’s most influential people. She has accomplished much in her research career by being willing to take chances, readily share her results with others, and make sure the results are delivered to those who can use them for crop improvement, particularly in developing countries.

McCouch and her husband, Paul Coen, live in Locke, N.Y., where Paul is a large animal practitioner of veterinary medicine. They have one daughter and one son.