Center Directors General

Robert (Bob) Zeigler became director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in April 2005. He is an internationally respected plant pathologist with more than 20 years experience in agricultural research in the developing world. Bob worked at IRRI from 1992 to 1998 as a plant pathologist. During this time, he led the Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Program and the Irrigated Rice Research Program.
Bob was the founding chairman of the board of the IRRI Fund Singapore, an incorporated non-profit charitable organization established to raise the profile of international rice research and generate funding for it. He also serves on the Golden Rice Humanitarian Board.

Bob earned a PhD in plant pathology from Cornell University, an MSc in botany (forest ecology) from Oregon State University, and his BSc in biological sciences from the University of Illinois. He is also an elected Fellow of The American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Phytopathological Society, elected member Sigma Chi (research) and Gama Sigma Delta (agriculture) honors societies, and a recipient of the EC Stakman award. He has published widely in the areas of plant pathology and international agricultural research for development.