Mary-Dell Chilton, former professor at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a pioneer in the field of plant biotechnology, passed away on June 24. She was 87 years old.
Born in Indianapolis and raised in North Carolina, Dr. Chilton earned both her bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Illinois. She completed postdoctoral research at the University of Washington.
In the 1970s, Dr. Chilton joined the faculty at Washington University. While there, she discovered that bacterium can enter the DNA of trees. Along with a team of colleagues, Dr. Chilton developed a way to remove the harmful DNA, resulting in the first-ever genetically modified plants. By the 1980s, Dr. Chilton transitioned out of academia and into the private sector as a researcher with Syngenta in North Carolina. She ultimately rose to the role of vice president and principal scientist.
Throughout her career, Dr. Chilton earned numerous awards for her scientific discoveries, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Louvaine in Belgium. In 2023, President Joe Biden awarded Dr. Chilton the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.