Scott Peck, professor of biochemistry, received the 2023 Roger L. Mitchell Fellow Award at the CAFNR Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony April 11.  

Peck joined Mizzou in 2005 and has made numerous seminal discoveries on the functions of specific protein kinases and phosphatases that control plant defense responses to bacterial pathogens. His papers have garnered more than 10,000 total citations. 

Peck has been appointed as an Extraordinary Professor at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa, and as a Joint Professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in Japan. He continuously publishes his research in the top journals in the field, including PNAS, Molecular Plant, Plant Cell, and Plant Physiology. 

“Scott is an excellent scientist, mentor, and collaborator. He is rigorous in designing, conducting, and interpreting experiments and data. He also has the keen ability to get to the heart of a problem and directly address the key issues,” said David Braun, professor, Division of Plant Science & Technology, and director, Interdisciplinary Plant Group. 

The award honors Roger L. Mitchell, a former dean of the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, by recognizing those who elevate the College through collaboration and innovative thinking. The fellowship is awarded annually to a ranked CAFNR faculty member to recognize academic excellence and leadership in one or more areas of the College’s core missions of outreach, research and teaching.