Hao Zhou

Hao Zhou is a seasoned professional in plant breeding with extensive experience in both academia and the agricultural industry. Currently serving as a Senior Breeder at Benson Hill since June 2020, Hao focuses on AI-driven speed breeding for soybean and pea crops. Prior roles include leading corn breeding efforts at Syngenta, directing corn haplotype breeding projects at Bayer, and working as a Discovery Pathology Breeder at Monsanto Company, where significant contributions included disease resistance research and mentoring. Early career experience includes a Research Assistant position at the University of Minnesota, where Hao engaged in genomic studies in barley and wheat. Hao holds a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Minnesota, as well as an MS in Microbiology and a BS in Biological Science from Nankai University.