IRRI welcomes new head of research

Matthew Morell is new deputy director general for research at IRRI. As head of research, Matthew will provide strategic leadership and oversight for IRRI’s research and outreach programs on genetic diversity and gene discovery, varietal improvement, genetics, and biotechnology, crop environment sciences, crop management, grain quality, postharvest and mechanization, targeting and policy, and training. He will hold office at F.F. Hill Building.

Matthew led research as theme leader for 16 years at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Before coming to IRRI, he led “Future Grains and Plant Oil Production,” a thematic research initiative that pulled together multiple scientific disciplines for the development of novel high-value grains and oil seeds. This enabled him to access and make use of complex collaborating capacities, overcoming geographical challenges across research sites.

Matthew has strong experience in identifying, protecting, and managing intellectual property, as well as establishing a means for strong compliance with the requirements of gene technology regulations, genetic modification stewardship, and occupational health and safety legislation. He brings to IRRI decades of experience driven by a passion for scientific excellence, an understanding of private-public partnerships, a sound capacity for stakeholder engagement, a tested understanding of identifiable patent outcomes and protection of intellectual property, and people engagement and leadership skills.

More about Matthew

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