James Specht, emeritus professor of agronomy and horticulture, received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the United Soybean Board. The honor, the highest award given by the USB, is reserved for an individual, organization or group that has made an outstanding positive impact on the soybean industry.
Specht is part of a national research team that developed the first soybean genetic map of 20 linkage groups. He was a member of a research team that sequenced the soybean genome. He also discovered the differences in soybean genotypes, delineating them into slow and high water users. Recent accomplishments involved using genomics to search for genes that govern soybean seed protein and oil content and Specht was the principal investigator in developing the national Nested Associated Mapping Populations that will serve as a resource for the soybean genetics and physiology research community for years to come.
Specht received the award during the American Soybean Association banquet during the Commodity Classic on March 4 in New Orleans.
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/b6j8