Plant sciences professor Kent Bradford named “Outstanding Faculty”

University of California, Davis
November 7, 2007

Professor Kent J. Bradford, Department of Plant Sciences, is one of the hardest working faculty members on campus, motivated by a desire to be of service, and an exceptional scholar in seed biology. He was recently honored as “Outstanding Faculty” with a 2007 Award of Distinction from the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Professor Bradford correctly predicted that the biology and economics of many biotechnologies would converge in the seed — a multipurpose delivery system for agricultural technology. He was the driving force behind the UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center, established in 1999 to facilitate interaction between the seed industry and the university. He helped raise more than $1.2 million in capital funds and nearly $500,000 in operational support to launch the vibrant, vital center. Funding to establish the R.M. Parsons Foundation Plant Transformation Facility on campus was also raised as part of this effort.

Bradford is an innovative professor who has mentored 12 master’s students and 10 doctoral students, and supervised another 13 postdoctoral research associates. He has held numerous posts within the campus community, including five years as chair of the former Department of Vegetable Crops and current service as vice chair for teaching and curriculum development in the Department of Plant Sciences. He has participated on 40 departmental or college committees since 1989. His publication record includes more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters or extension bulletins, and several hundred reports, presentations, and invited seminars. He has co-edited three books, including Seed Development, Dormancy and Germination, published in 2007.

Dr. Bradford’s research contributions have significantly increased the understanding of seed biology for important crops such as tomatoes, melons, lettuce, peas, beans, rice, broccoli, peppers, and carrots. He was a Fulbright scholar in Argentina in 1999 and an invited visiting professor at the University of Pierre and Marie Curie, in Paris, France, in 2005 and 2007. In 2002 he received the Seed Science Award from the Crop Science Society of America for his continuous high-quality research.

Bradford is active in a number of professional societies and has served in editorial roles for research journals including Plant Physiology, Crop Science, Seed Science Research, Journal of Experimental Botany, Journal of Plant Science Research, and California Agriculture. He helped establish the International Society for Seed Science and served as its first secretary from 1999 to 2004. In 2003, Dr. Bradford, was selected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“Kent is an exceptional leader, among the brightest of the stars within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, as well as the entire University of California system,” said colleague Joseph DiTomaso, a Cooperative Extension specialist in plant sciences. “Despite all of his accomplishments and his busy schedule, he always seems to have time to help or advise others, including faculty and graduate and undergraduate students.”

Media contacts:

• Kent Bradford, Department of Plant Sciences, (530) 752-6087, kjbradford@ucdavis.edu
• John Stumbos, Senior Writer, (530) 754-4979, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, jdstumbos@ucdavis.edu
• Ann Filmer, Director of Communications, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, (530) 754-6788, afilmer@ucdavis.edu

Written by John Stumbos, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis.