Dr. Brendan Mormile is a scientist at Soilcea, specializing in CRISPR editing to develop disease-resistant citrus. His work focuses on applying precision breeding to combat major citrus diseases like citrus greening (HLB) and canker by engineering targeted edits that enhance tree resilience. He utilizes whole-genome sequencing, knockout edits, plant transformation, and molecular biology approaches to identify and disrupt disease susceptibility targets, accelerating natural selection processes for sustainable citrus varieties. With expertise in pathogen pathology, plant molecular genetics, and crop resilience, he leads research and development efforts to improve citrus health. He received his PhD in Plant Pathology from Texas A&M, and was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Michigan, focusing on Xanthomonas pathogenicity and using CRISPR editing.
