A Career Built on Better Cotton

During the 2026 Beltwide Cotton Improvement Conference in San Antonio, the National Cotton Council announced Dr. Christopher Saski as the 2025 Cotton Genetics Research Award recipient, honoring a career defined by collaboration and impact. Selected by the Joint Cotton Breeding Committee, Saski received a plaque and monetary award recognizing work that has advanced cotton genetics.

Saski’s path began with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a Ph.D. in genetics, leading to his role as professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Clemson University. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Georgia, the University of Arkansas, and Colorado State University, and has directed the Clemson University Genomics Institute and the Genomics and Computational Biology Laboratory.

Across his career, Saski has authored or co-authored 126 scientific journal articles and has a patent pending for improved transformation and regeneration in upland cotton. Guided by the theme “Building Better Cotton,” he built strong partnerships, led a Beltwide collaboration addressing FOV4, released six resistant upland lines, and expanded genomic resources enabling cotton improvement.