The Illinois Plant Breeding Center is a multi-disciplinary group of faculty and resources committed to educating talented students to become outstanding plant breeding professionals. Upon entering the workforce, alumni of the Illinois Plant Breeding Center are ready to take on challenging roles in industry, academia, or government.

The Illinois Plant Breeding Center is located at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Given the diversity and scope of the faculty who comprise the Center, no one building houses all members. The Center taps into a rich network of resources across campus, including:

1. Roy J Carver Biotechnology Center
2. Institute of Genomic Biology
3. National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
4. Center for Advanced Bioenergy Research
5. Beckman Institute
6. National Soybean Research Laboratory
7. Edward R. Madigan Laboratory
8. Turner Hall
9. Crop Sciences Research and Education Center

Currently, more than 55 M.S. and Ph.D. students are part of the Plant Breeding Center each year. The goal is to increase this student population to 75 within the next five years.

Your specific courses would be decided by you and your faculty advisor.

Your area of specialization as a graduate student depends upon both your interests and the faculty mentor you choose. Faculty research specializations include:
> Biofuels
> Nutritional aspects of food/feed
> Genetic regulation
> Stability and sustainability of crop production: yield, biotic and abiotic stress
> Genotype by environment interaction: genomic to field performance levels
> Climate change
> New sources of useful genetic diversity
> Improved efficiency of plant breeding systems

Graduate students accepted as part of the Illinois Plant Breeding Center enroll in in-depth courses, while basic courses are offered for undergraduates interested in learning more about plant breeding and intending to apply to become a graduate student in the plant breeding program.

Begin by applying to be a graduate student in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois, and indicate your interest in becoming part of the Illinois Plant Breeding Center in your application. Students who are part of the Illinois Plant Breeding Center usually pursue research that provides training in plant improvement AND have a field component to their research. Students must work with their faculty mentor to assure that their research direction will match these interests.

To be accepted as a graduate student at the University of Illinois, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students with GPAs above 3.5 are more likely to be selected to receive a Fellowship.

No.

All accepted applicants to the Illinois Plant Breeding Center are considered automatically for assistantships and Fellowships. Students with GPAs above 3.5 are more likely to be selected to receive a Fellowship. Based on the specific criteria for each Fellowship, the Crop Sciences Department decides upon the recipient. The number of Fellowships varies each year.

The Department of Crop Sciences offers part-time positions to study with departmental faculty on research, teaching, or extension activities. Research assistantships are offered based on availability of funds and space in an appropriate faculty member's laboratory. Teaching assistantships require meeting University standards of English language skills, excellent teaching potential, and competence in the area being taught. These assistantships include an annual stipend and can be awarded at different levels of time commitment. In addition to the stipend, assistantships of at least one-quarter time carry a waiver of all tuition and most fees. These waivers are worth several thousand dollars over and above the stipend. Students awarded Fellowships receive higher stipends than those on assistantship. The department will be pleased to provide current values for assistantships and waivers.

Applications are accepted at any time. For full consideration for financial support:
For Fall Semester: February 15
For Spring Semester: November 1

> Participate in classes that feature guest lecturers from industry.
> Attend seminars designed to highlight industry research and development programs.
> Seek an industry-sponsored fellowship featuring "immersion experiences" in company settings.
> Select a faculty advisor who collaborates with industry in research.
> Seek an industry-sponsored fellowship that provides mentoring by a company scientist.

You will be well-prepared for an exciting career in a high-demand profession. You can expect to be well-positioned to fill any number of rewarding jobs within the plant breeding industry, and you will be highly competitive for positions in academia and government.

Dr. John A. Juvik, Interim Director of the Illinois Plant Breeding Center