Speaker Profile: Dr. Frank Shotkoski, Director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project (ABSPII), Cornell University

Posted by admin on July 26, 2010

Frank Shotkoski, Ph.D. is the Director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII) at Cornell University where he is directing a USAID funded project that has a mandate to commercialize bioengineered trait based crops for developing countries in Africa and Asia.

Before joining Cornell University, Frank worked as the Global Cotton Traits Technical Manager with Novartis and later Syngenta from 1998-2004 where he built a cotton biotechnology program that resulted in the development of trait-based product using the insecticidal protein Vip3A (VipCotTM).

Prior to Syngenta, Frank held the positions of Research Associate and Research Fellow at the University of Washington’s Department of Medical Genetics.  In these positions, he conducted research on human gene therapy applications with an emphasis on developing gene-based therapies for treatment of patients with hematopoietic diseases such a sickle cell anemia and b-thalasemia.

Frank Shotkoski earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Entomology from the University of Minnesota in 1992 and Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska in 1988 and 1984, respectively.  He has received additional training in numerous professional project management and business development programs.

He is the author of many referred publications, numerous abstracts and several book chapters.  Frank is a senior level biotechnology project and business development professional specializing in product development and commercialization of genetically engineered trait-based crop products.  His expertise stems from 20 years of academic and industrial experience in both medical and agricultural biotechnology.

Agribiotech & SEED Markets Jakarta Speaker
Day 1 – Tuesday, Oct 12
15:05  Agriculture Biotechnology : A Road Map to Commercialization

Agribiotech & SEED Markets conference analyses technology innovations in the global crop protection and agri-biotech industries to increase crop yields, and assess the latest regulatory frameworks to strengthen sustainable agriculture. To find more about AgriBiotech & Seed Markets in Jakarta from Oct 12 to 13, 2010, please visit http://www.worldgrainstrade.com/agribiotech