Karl Peter Pauls has 41 years of experience in university research and teaching. He has held a variety of leadership roles, including: Director of Guelph/Waterloo Plant Biotechnology Centre, Acting Associate Dean Academic of the Ontario Agricultural College (University of Guelph), President of the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists, and Chair of the Department of Plant Agriculture (University of Guelph).
His research is focused on cellular and molecular studies of embryogenesis, pathogen-induced stress, agronomic trait expression in field crop plants, bioproducts, bean breeding, and genomics. He has published 193 peer reviewed journal articles and 21 book chapters and has advised 35 MSc and 21 PhD students to completion.
His awards include: the University of Waterloo Pearson Medal in Biology; University of Guelph Distinguished Professor Award; Ontario Agricultural College Distinguished Researcher Award; “Seed of the Year Award “ for OAC Rex Navy Bean; Bean Improvement Cooperative Meritorious Service Award for outstanding contributions in bean research and education; “Seed of the Year Award” for Dynasty; and the University of Guelph Innovation of the Year Award for 2024 for the development of the Dynasty Dark Red Kidney Bean. The Ontario Bean Growers estimated that Dynasty is worth an annual dividend of several million $/ year to Ontario farmers.
As a plant breeder he, with others, has developed > 50 CFIA registered bean varieties in different market classes. Currently, the University of Guelph has licenses with companies to commercialize more than 20 different bean varieties developed by the Guelph bean breeding program.
