The Excellence in Extension Award recognizes an APS member for excellence in extension plant pathology who have made outstanding contributions by creating, developing, or implementing extension-related programs or materials or who have provided significant leadership in an area of extension plant pathology.
Shaista Karim's journey is a testament to passion, perseverance, and purpose. Born and raised in Hunza, a serene town nestled at the foothills of majestic Karakoram Mountain range in Pakistan, her story reflects a dedication to excellence and a firm commitment to advance global food security. Growing up in a region where the livelihood solely depends on agriculture, she developed a deep appreciation for plant pathology during her childhood. Shaista’s academic career began at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), where she earned her Bachelor’s in Agricultural Sciences. Her dedication and talent earned her the prestigious Fulbright scholarship from the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan. This opportunity allowed her to serve as an educational and cultural ambassador at Upper Iowa University, in Fayette, Iowa.
Shaista continued to pursue her Master’s in Horticultural Sciences at UAF and was awarded funding from the Higher Education Commission Pakistan for her Ph.D. studies. She completed her doctoral degree in Plant Pathology at Colorado State University (CSU). This made her the first-generation college graduate and first woman from her town to receive a doctoral degree.
Dr. Karim is passionate about advancing plant pathology for food crops, particularly through innovative research and collaborative efforts. At CSU, she developed multiple diagnostic tools for potato pathogens like Dickeya dianthicola and Clavibacter michiganensis and investigated metabolic response of wild potato species, which laid a strong foundation for the identification of genes resistant to blackleg and soft-rot diseases. As a postdoctoral-research fellow at CSU, she developed diagnostic tools for Erwinia aphidicola and contributed to rapid pathogen detection using next-generation sequencing for several plant pathogens. Her subsequent work at Oregon State University as a post-doctoral fellow, she explored soil microbiome and its impact on potato health which played a significant role in enhancing our understanding of soil health in disease management.
Currently, Dr. Karim serves as the Quality Control Tech Lead at Bayer Crop Sciences located in Woodland, California, where she focuses on optimizing testing methods for detection of seed-borne pathogens – ensuring the vegetable supply chain meets the demands for speed, reliability and cost-effectiveness. Several of her initiatives were recognized for their importance in seed health testing through awards including but not limited to Seed Production Innovation Award and the Vegetable Seed Product Supply Award.
In 2022, Dr. Karim spearheaded development and implementation of proficiency testing to ensure the high-quality testing through established measures of repeatability and reproducibility. She developed a comprehensive internal strategy based on industry best practices and aligned with International Seed Trade Association (ISTA) standards. This strategic approach not only improved the precision of testing processes but also led to significant improvements in production outcomes for customers. By prioritizing consistency, accuracy, and adherence to globally recognized standards, her initiative played a key role in delivering high-quality results and enhancing the overall customer experience.
In 2023, she introduced several efficient, cost-saving initiatives focused on streamlining testing processes and implementing new advanced assays. Through optimizing current and validation of new methods, she was able to reduce turnaround time (TAT) and significantly reduce product supply costs. These initiatives have been widely adopted by global Bayer Seed Health labs and have set a new benchmark for efficiency and innovation in the industry. Her technical advancements have equipped farmers with higher-quality seeds, supporting Bayer’s vision of “Health for all, Hunger for None”.
In 2024, she earned the prestigious "Women in Leadership" certification from the Yale School of Management for her collaborative work in agricultural sciences. This recognition highlights her extraordinary impact in championing gender equality and innovation in science, solidifying her as a trailblazer and a beacon of inspiration for women striving to make their mark in leadership roles across industries. In addition, through her relentless commitment in STEM, Dr. Karim was invited to lead the Bayer Women in Science Empowered (WiSe) West chapter, which aims to inspire and empower female scientists by providing networking opportunities, mentorship, and resources to help them thrive in their careers. She continues to bring her passion for people development through serving as a certified Mindful Matters facilitator, a global grassroots initiative at Bayer focused on enhancing employee engagement, innovation, and open-mindedness across all disciplines in the company.
Dr. Karim’s outstanding contributions extend to the American Phytopathological Society, where she plays an important role in driving innovation and fostering collaboration within the global scientific community. In her leadership roles within the Bacteriology and Seed Pathology Communities of Interest, she launched the "Advances in Phytobacteriology Series" and developed a comprehensive online course on high-throughput sequencing for plant disease diagnosis – just to name a few of her contributions. These efforts, among many others, highlight her unwavering commitment to advancing the field and integrating cutting-edge technology to mitigate yield losses caused by plant diseases.
Beyond her national contributions, Dr. Karim serves as an editor for the European Journal of Plant Pathology (EJPP) and as a reviewer for the ISTA Seed Health database, Phytopathology, and Plant Disease Journals. Dr. Karim’s firm dedication to research, education, and mentorship advances the field of plant pathology while empowering the next generation of scientists.
Through her innovative work and commitment to foster collaboration in science, Dr. Karim is not only making a difference in agriculture but also paving the way for a brighter future for women in science and fellow colleagues. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder of the impact one individual can have in transforming lives, communities, and the world at large.
