Craig Yendrek

Craig Yendrek is an accomplished research scientist with extensive experience in plant physiology and molecular biology. Currently serving as Research Principal and Sr. Scientist at The Hawthorne Gardening Company since April 2019, Craig leads biology R&D for lighting and nutrient/supplement product categories. Prior to this role, Craig was a Sr. Scientist on the Plant Food Team at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, where significant contributions included designing a Next Generation Nutrition analysis platform and analyzing nutrient use efficiency. Earlier experience includes roles at the Institute for Genomic Biology, USDA ARS, and The University of Vermont, focusing on crop stress physiology, climate change impacts on crops, and root development mechanisms. Craig holds a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education from Miami University.