Champaign, IL (December 3, 2024) - Illinois Crop Improvement Association Field Services Director Zach Duray has become a Registered Genetic Technologist.
Duray joined Illinois Crop in 2020 after working at the University of Illinois and the USDA-Agriculture Research Service’s Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit in Lincoln, NE.
While with the USDA, he performed disease bioassays in a greenhouse setting and confirmed the identity of transgenic plants by genotyping. Duray has evaluated the characteristics and pathogenicity of brown stem rot, sudden death syndrome, phytophthora root rot, and tar spot under greenhouse, growth chamber, and field conditions.
At the University of Illinois, Duray was a Visiting Research Specialist for the Field Crops Pathology Research Lab in the Department of Crop Sciences, evaluating the characteristics and pathogenicity of brown stem rot, sudden death syndrome, phytophthora root rot, and tar spot. Duray played an integral role in designing the PCR protocols to isolate fungal barcoding genes to maintain isolate identity and create a phylogeny of tar spot isolates collected from across the Midwest to learn more about this disease’s origin and its evolutionary history since its discovery in the US in 2015.
Duray has a bachelor's degree in crop science with a concentration in plant biotechnology and molecular biology and a master's degree in plant biotechnology under the Professional Science Master’s program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Duray is a licensed pesticide applicator and a Society of Commercial Seed Technologists member.
Duray moved from Certified Genetic Technologist to Registered Genetic Technologist (RGT) in November 2024.
Celebrating 20 years of ISO 17025 Accreditation
In 2025, the Illinois Crop Improvement Association laboratories (Seed, Greenhouse, Trait, and Identity Preserved Grain) will celebrate 20 years of ISO 17025 accreditation.
What was said then is still true today, "Agriculture has a greater expectation regarding the performance of seed products and technology delivered through seed improvements."
Illinois Crop has and continues to offer unique accredited services through accredited individuals to support the modern seed and grain industries. This role requires good science and good people to be strong partners in advancing seed products and technology.
Illinois Crop will celebrate 20 years of accreditation throughout 2025 by sharing some milestones, philosophies, and achievements in improving accuracy and reliability in testing.