INSTITUTE, W.Va. — West Virginia State University (WVSU) Professor of Genetics and Plant Breeding Dr. Padma Nimmakayala has received a Distinguished Service Award from the American Society for Horticultural Science’s Plant Biotechnology Professional Interest Group. The award is in recognition of Nimmakayala’s outstanding service and mentoring contributions in the specialized domain of plant biotechnology. 

Nimmakayala’s research focuses on breeding, genetics and genomics in watermelons, tomato and peppers. Her work aims to develop molecular markers for fruit quality, yield and heavy metal tolerance and to integrate these tools for genome-assisted breeding. 

“We are proud to celebrate this important achievement for Dr. Nimmakayala, whose work is addressing important challenges in horticultural science and has meaningful implications for producers and consumers in West Virginia and beyond,” said WVSU President Ericke S. Cage. “This accomplishment exemplifies the caliber of research taking place at West Virginia State University and is a prime example of how our faculty are contributing to the global scientific community.”

The recognition is the latest in a string of honors for the long-time WVSU researcher and faculty member. Earlier this year, Nimmakayala was selected as a Fulbright Specialist and recognized among the World’s Top 5% Scientists in the 2025 Global Scientific Index and Scientist Ranking, based on bibliometric analysis of global research contributions.

The Distinguished Service Award was presented this month at the 2026 ASHS Conference in Dallas, Texas.

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