Dr. Valerio Hoyos Villegas

Biography

Valerio Hoyos-Villegas is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences. As the university's dry bean breeder, he leads a program focused on developing high-performing, resilient dry bean cultivars that meet the needs of Michigan’s bean producers. His work encompasses a wide range of dry bean market classes, integrating traditional breeding techniques with advanced genomics and phenomics tools. Dr. Hoyos-Villegas' research primarily explores the genetic mechanisms underlying quantitative trait variation in self-pollinating species, and this area shows promise for improving yield stability, disease resistance, and overall crop resilience. He has made significant contributions to the scientific community, having published over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, co-authored more than 10 seed industry publications, and delivered 20 invited talks and keynote presentations. His leadership roles include serving as the past president of the North American Plant Phenotyping Network (NAPPN), and he is recognized with the 2024 Early Career Award in Research Service. Furthermore, Dr. Hoyos-Villegas is actively engaged with the National Association of Plant Breeders and serves as a technical associate editor for leading journals, including the Plant Phenome Journal, Crop Science, and the Journal of Plant Registrations. He earned his PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology from Michigan State University and a degree in Crop Physiology from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Research Interests