Dr. Vagner Benedito, professor of biochemical genetics and plant physiology, is the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s new associate dean for 1890 Research Programs and associate director of the UMES Agricultural Experiment Station. He holds a dual appointment in the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences to conduct research and manage the UMES-AES, including activities funded through Evans-Allen, McIntire Stennis and the associated state matching funds, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
In his new post, Benedito will mentor and support faculty and students associated with the AES and help develop grant applications and funding opportunities. He will also work closely with UMES Extension as well as the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station and establish linkages with relevant public and private sector entities.
“We are pleased to have Dr. Benedito fulfill such a critical role of the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences and the university in the support of its land-grant mission,” said Dr. Moses T. Kairo, SANS dean. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to UMES, and I am confident he is well-equipped to keep abreast of changes in the funding landscape from reporting to compliance, and in seeking opportunities for leveraging more funding.”
The UMES Agricultural Experiment Station underpins UMES’ food and agricultural programs, a central part of the university’s land-grant mission, Kairo said.
“These programs are critical in supporting Maryland’s food and agricultural industries. They also provide opportunities for student research and experiential learning at the UMES-AES laboratories on campus as well as the UMES Research, Extension and Teaching farm.”
Benedito comes to UMES from West Virginia University’s Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, where he headed the Laboratory of Plant Functional Genetics. His research looks at how genes contribute to the development of traits of agronomical and nutritional importance by studying genetic models of crops.
He led breakthrough research on legume genomics to discover how plant genes are involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation in the model, Medicago truncatula, a close relative to alfalfa. He also uses the tomato cultivar ‘Micro-Tom’ to understand acquisition of competence during plant regeneration in tissue culture, the metabolism of antioxidants in tomato, and genes involved in plant resistance against insects and pests. By identifying and characterizing the molecular functions of the genes involved in these processes using biotechnology and gene editing tools, his work ultimately aims to contribute with tools to facilitate the development of crops with improved traits, including efficient nitrogen metabolism, fruit and vegetables with improved nutritional value (biofortification), better protocols to regenerate and propagate plants in vitro, and create more resilient crops.
“It is truly an honor to join UMES and the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences to contribute to its growing research enterprise. I have been deeply impressed by the strong sense of community and the collaborative spirit driving our research mission. The caliber of research across many of our labs is remarkable, and I see tremendous potential for reaching even greater heights. While we face real challenges and uncertainties in research funding in the national scene, I believe in the resilience of our faculty, staff and students and together, we will soar above and beyond.”
Benedito holds a doctorate in plant sciences from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. He also has an adjunct appointment as professor of biotechnology at West Virginia State University, another 1890 HBCU.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850.
Photo by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, tdudek@umes.edu.
