Oklahoma State University’s Kirankumar Mysore has been named a recipient of the 2023 Sarkeys Distinguished Professor Award by the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
The Sarkeys Award was created by the Sarkeys Foundation in 1980 in honor of Elmo Baumann, an agronomist who worked with the foundation following his retirement from OSU. The annual award recognizes those with outstanding contributions to the agricultural industry through teaching, research or Extension efforts.
“Looking at the past awardees, they are all highly accomplished individuals, and it is great to be a part of the prestigious awardee list,” Mysore said. “This being my first award from OSU, it means a lot to me, and I am motivated to achieve more in my research.”
Mysore, a professor in the OSU Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, specializes in plant-microbe interactions, specifically in the understanding of how certain plants become infected with pathogens. Before arriving at OSU in 2021, Mysore was a professor and head of the plant, microbe and soil section at the Noble Research Institute.
Mysore serves as editor or associate editor of four major journals: “BMC Plant Biology,” “PeerJ Journal,” “Bioenergy Research” and “Grassland Research.” He has co-authored 270 peer-reviewed publications and 17 book chapters.
Mysore is currently the fourth highest-ranking OSU life sciences researcher in total Google Scholar citations and the second highest-ranking life scientist in the h-index of 77, which means 77 of his publications have been cited 77 or more times.
He also holds eight patents in plant disease resistance and Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation, a process used to transfer a gene of interest into plants.
As a leader in nonhost resistance and technology development, Mysore has been an invited speaker to approximately 75 national or international conferences and universities. In addition to research, Mysore is committed to teaching students, having trained several postdoctoral fellows, research technicians, undergraduate researchers and graduate students.
“One of Dr. Mysore’s remarkable qualities is his dedication to mentoring and educating the next generation of scientists,” said Feng Feng, assistant professor in the OSU Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. “His mentorship has guided numerous postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and undergraduates, many of whom have subsequently embarked on successful careers in academia and industry.”
Mysore currently teaches molecular genetics at a graduate level and has plans to teach courses in plant-microbe interactions.
Throughout his career, Mysore has received about $7.5 million in state, federal, international and corporate funding. His research and accomplishments have been recognized on national levels, including his election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Since arriving at OSU, he has generated more than $3.4 million in grant funding from a variety of sources, which includes a $2.3 million National Science Foundation grant.
Mysore’s academic history brings great distinction to OSU Agriculture, his department and institution, said John Gustafson, head of the OSU Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
“Dr. Mysore’s impact continues on an exponential upward trajectory,” Gustafson said. “Dr. Mysore is likely one of the most highly cited life science faculty members in OSU history.”
By Ainsley Treesh
