AgriLife Research scientist receives international Borlaug early career award
Shannon Baker recognized for shaping next generation of wheat improvement through innovation
Shannon Baker, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research assistant research scientist, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Canyon, represented the U.S. as one of three scientists receiving the 2026 Jeanie Borlaug Laube Women in Triticum, WIT, Early Career Awards at the 4th International Wheat Congress in Bologna, Italy.
Baker plays an active role in the Texas High Plains wheat and triticale breeding pipeline by incorporating new data collection methods and unmanned aerial systems, UAS, high-throughput phenotyping.
She has spent more than 20 years with AgriLife Research, 16 in the wheat breeding program, and is based at the Texas A&M AgriLife High Plains Research and Extension Center in Canyon.
“Shannon exemplifies the spirit of Norman Borlaug’s legacy: applying science in service to humanity, empowering others through education and advancing food security through land-grant institution-led plant breeding,” said Jackie Rudd, Ph.D., AgriLife Research wheat breeder and professor, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Canyon. “With her record of scientific achievement, leadership, mentorship and international engagement, she is exceptionally deserving of the Women in Triticum Early Career Award.”
Baker uses AI to accelerate wheat production
Baker’s work integrates UAS, data analytics and classical breeding to accelerate wheat cultivar development for drought-prone and irrigated production systems.
This research supports collaborative capacity-building efforts in the U.S. and internationally, and she is committed to mentoring future scientists and advancing wheat varieties that strengthen global food security, the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative, BGRI, news release stated.
“Shannon is a superstar in the wheat-breeding universe,” said Brent Auvermann, Ph.D., center director in Canyon. “She has a penetrating eye, a nuanced mind, a formidable work ethic and a passion for wheat improvement that is second to none.”
Baker serves as education coordinator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture WheatCAP, where she leads national training programs in phenotyping, scientific communication and student professional development.
Baker recently completed her doctorate at Texas A&M University, where her research applied UAS-based phenotyping and time-series modeling to improve wheat breeding selection and deepen understanding of genotype-by-environment interactions.
By using aerial imagery and data analytics to evaluate wheat growth and field performance, she is helping breeders make more precise selections for resilient, high-yielding varieties, the BGRI news release stated.
“Shannon’s work with WheatCAP has positioned her as a national resource in hands-on phenotyping and capacity building,” said Amir Ibrahim, Ph.D., AgriLife Research associate director/chief scientific officer and associate dean for research in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “She is routinely sought out as a mentor, advisor and collaborator, reflecting her exceptional ability to elevate others and strengthen the broader wheat community.”
Supporting discovery and wheat improvement
The Jeanie Borlaug Laube WIT Early Career Award provides opportunities for training, mentorship and leadership development for scientists working in wheat during the early stages of their careers.
In addition to Baker, BGRI selected Katharina Jung from Germany and Bernice Ngina Waweru from Kenya for their research that connects modern tools with practical wheat improvement.
Baker and the other recipients were recognized for helping shape the next generation of wheat defense. Their work spans aerial phenotyping, wheat genetic diversity and disease-resistance genomics, with direct relevance for breeding programs working to strengthen wheat against disease, drought and climate stress, according to the BGRI news release.
“These scientists are carrying forward my father’s legacy through research that connects discovery, leadership and service to global food security,” said Jeanie Borlaug Laube, chair of the BGRI and daughter of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman E. Borlaug. “Their work shows the promise of young scientists who are using innovation and collaboration to protect one of the world’s most important crops.”
TOP PHOTO: Shannon Baker, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research assistant research scientist in Canyon, was presented the 2026 Jeanie Borlaug Laube Women in Triticum Early Career Award by Maricelis Acevedo, Ph.D., director of science for the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative. (Matt Hayes/Cornell University)
