Dr. H. Maelor Davies received his B.A. in biochemistry from Oxford University (England), and his Ph.D in plant biochemistry from London University (England). After postdoctoral research at the DoE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, and at the University of California at Davis, he spent 14 years with Calgene Inc., a pioneering company in agricultural biotechnology. Dr. Davies’ research at Calgene focused on the design of crop-improvement strategies at the metabolic level, and the biochemistry underlying the discovery and isolation of useful plant genes. He worked on several crops, and was part of the team that first demonstrated the modification of plant seed oils to provide new products. Dr. Davies joined the University of Kentucky as Professor of Agronomy and Director of KTRDC (then known as THRI) in 1996. His career interests in applying our knowledge of plants towards practical objectives are now directed at the needs of the farming community in Kentucky, and in addition to his administrative and management role at KTRDC he assists in promoting Kentucky as a location for agricultural biotechnology.

Responsibilities of the Administrative and Support staff of KTRDC include financial management, human resources, purchasing and receiving, facility maintenance, and communications.