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Michael Mazourek is an Associate Professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. His research focuses on vegetable breeding, specifically working with crops such as cucurbits, peppers, peas, and beans. He employs applied quantitative genetics to improve flavor, nutrition, and resilience in ecologically based production systems. His recent research program emphasizes innovation in vegetable adaptation and the selection process amidst naturally managed systems, highlighting the parallels between artificial selection in plant breeding and natural selection in crop progenitors. By leveraging genomics and biochemistry, Mazourek explores how plants adapt to their biotic environments, alongside the intertwined role of human influences. His work encompasses a wide range of methodological tools from genomics to on-farm trials and analytical chemistry. Through his outreach, he assists growers in overcoming barriers to access improved cultivars that enhance sustainability and yield. He has garnered recognition for his contributions to plant breeding and remains actively engaged in sharing knowledge with local and global communities.
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