Te-Ming Tseng

Te-Ming “Paul” Tseng graduated from Bangalore University, India in 2005 with a B.S. in Biotechnology, completed M.S. in Plant Biotechnology in 2007 from Allahabad Agricultural Institute, and then attended the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he completed his Ph.D. in Cell & Molecular Biology in Weed Science in 2013. Following his Ph.D., he worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Arkansas and Purdue University. Dr. Tseng is currently an Assistant Professor of Weed Physiology in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University (MSU). His research program is focused on studying the physiology of herbicide resistance, and characterizing the genetic basis of competitive traits in weeds using an interdisciplinary approach including molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, remote sensing, biochemistry, pathology, and agronomy. Some of the projects focus on: identifying molecular mechanisms of resistance to various herbicide mode of action; remote sensing to identify weed species and quantify herbicide injury on crop; studying the evolution and physiological characterization of herbicide-resistant weed species; and, characterizing the genetic basis of competitive traits in weeds; all with the ultimate goal of improving weed management practices and increasing crop yield.

He has won several awards including the Early Career Agricultural Scientist Award (Association of Agricultural Scientists of Indian Origin); Outstanding Reviewer Award (Weed Science Society of America (WSSA)); Excellence in Teaching Award (MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences); William M. White Special Project Awards (MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine); Schillig Special Teaching Award (MSU Provost’s office); Outstanding Mentor Award (MSU Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement); SEC Faculty Travel Award (Southeastern Conference); and, International Weed Science Society (IWSS) Travel Award. He received funding as a principal investigator/co-principal investigator in several competitive grant programs from different agencies, including USDA, state commodity boards, MS Department of Agriculture, and NASA.

Dr. Tseng serves as the associate editor of Weed Science, Crop Science, Plant Gene, and Frontiers in Plant Science; and has served as grant reviewer for numerous USDA, Southern SARE, MS NASA, and FFAR grants. He has also served as chair/co-chair of numerous SWSS and WSSA sections and co-coach of the Mississippi State University Weed Team. He is also the Plantae Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biologists; WSSA representative to Technical Advisory Group for Biological Control Agents of Weeds; Editor of the Southern Weed Science Society (SWSS) Proceedings; Strategic Communications Officer of the Gamma Sigma Delta International; President of the MSU Gamma Sigma Delta; and, Chair of the Publicity and Promotion Committee of the International Weed Science Society.