Brian Pfeiffer, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Puerto Vallarta, Jal., MX

Zionsville, Indiana, US

• Development of competitive grain sorghum hybrids for central Texas, the Coastal Bend, the Rio Grande Valley, and northeast Mexico
• Administer both inbred line development and pre-commercial yield testing programs
• Management of research station and team members located at Bishop, Texas
• Relaunched nursery breeding operations in South Texas
• Lead hybrid advancements through multiple brands
• Create technical recommendations for product positioning

College Station, Texas, US

• Trained by Dr. Bill Rooney, Borlaug Chair of Plant Breeding, in applied plant breeding research in the country’s largest public breeding program for sorghum
• Developed strong understanding of sorghum germplasm, plant breeding theory, and how to manage a breeding pipeline
• Developed familiarity with genomics technologies and how to implement these tools in modern breeding programs
• Researched genetic gain from long-term selection in hybrid grain sorghum breeding programs
• Investigated the genetics of black pericarp sorghum, known to contain high levels of the the flavanoid 3-deoxyanthocyaninidn, a compound with high antioxidant potential
• Administered the specialty grain sorghum breeding program

College Station, TX, US

• Lab Instructor, “World Food and Fiber Crops” & ”Introduction to Soil Science”
• Presented course material to 40 undergraduate students each week
• Evaluated student learning by creating and grading weekly quizzes
• Averaged 4.5 (1-5 scale) on final teaching assistant evaluation survey

St. Louis, Missouri, US

• Conducted applied plant breeding research in the Corn Inbred Line Development Program
• Facilitated Dr. Tom Carslon, Line Development Breeder, and Brian Gardunia, Discovery Breeder, with various research activities
• Investigation of marker assisted selection methods in order to exterminate a mutant allele from germplasm
• Analyzed field notes and marker assisted selection data using inferential statistical methods
• Examined plots and collected notes on plant phenotypic observations
• Summarized and presented research findings to Monsanto colleagues

Washington, DC, US

• Conducted quantitative corn genetic research with Dr. Jode Edwards
• Preformed an independent research project that analyzed the genetics of selection response in maize populations
• Conducted extensive phenotypic observations, especially for plant architecture and maturity
• Overhauled germplasm inventory, increasing organization and efficiency
• Gained expertise in operation of PRISM (Plant Research Information Sharing Manager) software
• Self-pollinated and cross-pollinated, planted & harvested corn field trials

• Assisted with plant breeding research including research plot planting, plot establishment and maintenance, organizing and completing pollination, harvesting and analyzing samples
• Collected high quality data on specific traits of economic importance such as maturity and disease resistance
• Traveled to research locations across the state of Illinois as part of the data collection process
• Lead groups of co-workers to complete required tasks
• Conducted and presented research to Pioneer colleagues on the efficacy of seed treatment on plant population and early plant vigor
• Toured corporate headquarter facilities in Johnston, IA

Ames, Iowa, US

Conducted independent research on the dedicated energy crop Miscanthus x giganteus under the guidance of Dr. Emily Heaton, Assistant Professor of Agronomy.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Plant Breeding

Master Of Business Administration - Mba

Master Of Science - Ms, Agricultural Economics

Master Of Science (M.S.), Plant Breeding

Bachelor’S Degree, Agronomy, Minor: Genetics

Plant Sciences, Plant Breeding