By Andi Anderson
The Iowa Soybean Research Center (ISRC) will welcome new leadership on July 1, 2025. Mark Licht and Steve Whitham, both professors at Iowa State University, will serve as co-directors.
They will replace founding director Greg Tylka, who will step down at the end of 2025 after 11 years of leadership to focus on his soybean cyst nematode (SCN) research.
Licht is an associate professor in the Department of Agronomy and an extension cropping systems specialist. He has worked closely with crop farmers to improve soybean and corn production through sustainable practices.
His program at ISU focuses on productivity, conservation, and profitability. Licht holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in agronomy and crop science from Iowa State.
Whitham, a professor in the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology since 2000, specializes in molecular plant pathology. His work includes functional genomics of plant-virus interactions and soybean disease research.
He earned his undergraduate degree in agricultural biochemistry from Iowa State and completed his graduate studies in plant pathology at the University of California, Berkeley.
Both have been longtime research affiliates with ISRC, and their appointments reflect Iowa State University's continued support for soybean research. As co-directors, they aim to expand the center’s research and education initiatives while keeping a strong focus on the needs of soybean farmers.
ISRC’s leadership and partners, including the Iowa Soybean Association, praised the transition. “They bring many strengths to the center and continue to focus on challenges important to Iowa farmers,” said Joe McClure, ISRC Industry Advisory Council Chair.
Tylka expressed gratitude for their involvement, saying the center remains a key part of the university’s agriculture programs. The new leadership marks a promising future for the ISRC and soybean innovation in Iowa.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski
Categories: Iowa, General