C. Robin Buell, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar Chair in Crop Genomics at the University of Georgia, has been named the 2026 Southeastern Conference Professor of the Year, according to a March 24 announcement. This award is considered the highest faculty honor in the conference and recognizes excellence in teaching, research, and service.
The recognition highlights Buell’s impact on plant genomics and her role as an educator. She is now the fourth University of Georgia faculty member to receive this distinction, with UGA claiming three out of the last five awards.
Buell is known internationally for her work in plant genomics, bioinformatics, and computational biology. She was part of a team that mapped the first genome sequence in a plant species and later led national efforts to decode rice and potato genomes. For over two decades, she has maintained a rice genome database used by researchers worldwide. Her research also includes mapping genomes for medicinal plants and pathogens.
“Dr. Buell is a world-renowned scientist and outstanding educator whose research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of plant genomics,” said Jere W. Morehead, president at UGA. “Her selection as SEC Professor of the Year highlights a career defined by positive impact and service to others, and I am truly grateful for all that Dr. Buell does each and every day to advance the University of Georgia’s land-grant and sea-grant mission.”
Buell has published more than 270 peer-reviewed papers with over 44,000 citations. Her projects have received continuous funding from major agencies such as NSF, NIH, USDA, totaling $82 million secured directly by her efforts.
As director of UGA’s Plant Center, she leads interdisciplinary research on improving agricultural efficiency through genetics and synthetic biology innovations like BioPoplar—a project focused on engineering poplar trees for renewable energy uses—and advances in medicinal plant genomics relevant to cancer treatments.
Beyond research achievements—including election to the National Academy of Sciences—Buell mentors students across educational levels: “Recognition by the SEC is amazing… My success is a result of their efforts,” she said about those who contributed to her work over three decades.
Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at UGA said: “Dr. Buell’s achievements embody the University of Georgia’s highest aspirations in research, teaching and public service… We are proud to see her extraordinary impact recognized with the SEC Professor of the Year award.”
The award comes with a $25,000 honorarium presented at UGA’s Faculty Recognition Banquet on March 30.
