Patrick Tranel obtained a B.S. in Agronomy from Iowa State University, an M.S. in Agronomy from Washington State University, and a Ph.D. in Botany from Michigan State University. Dr. Tranel has been a faculty member in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois since 1997. His research program uses molecular and genomics tools to address weed science issues, and has contributed much to our understanding of the evolution and underlying mechanisms of resistances to numerous herbicides in numerous weed species. Dr. Tranel also collaborates extensively with more applied weed scientists at the University of Illinois and elsewhere, fostering a research program that is timely and relevant to weed management practitioners. Dr. Tranel has received numerous awards for his research and teaching, and currently holds the Ainsworth Professorship in Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois.