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Gazala Ameen, assistant professor of plant-pathogen interactions at ��«Ӱҵ, has been awarded the 2025 Early Career Award by the American Phytopathological Society’s North Central Division. 

The honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to plant pathology through research, teaching and community engagement during the first decade of her professional journey. 

Since joining SDSU in 2021, Ameen has led a dynamic research program exploring the molecular mechanisms behind plant-pathogen interactions. She works with undergraduate and graduate students in her lab and other collaborators at SDSU and beyond to develop disease management strategies and early diagnostic tools with real-world benefits for Midwest growers. 

"We are very proud of Dr. Ameen for this well-deserved recognition and look forward to her continued success," Joe Cassady, South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of the SDSU College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, said. 

Ameen’s research has made a notable impact on plant pathology during her initial five years at SDSU. She credits strong institutional support, including guidance from former Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Head David Wright and resources offered through the college and the university’s research infrastructure for accelerating her work. 

“The discoveries we’ve made are a reflection of the amazing students and collaborators I work with every day,” Ameen said. “I have no reservations in saying that SDSU is an outstanding institution to be part of. The college has built great resources for new faculty to guide them through budget and proposal development and is constantly finding creative ways to support researchers.” 

Also contributing to the future of the plant pathology field, Ameen teaches undergraduate and graduate courses such as Principles of Plant Pathology, Advanced Plant Pathology and Genetics of Disease Resistance. She has mentored numerous students through hands-on research, with many now working in industry or continuing their academic careers. 

Looking ahead, she hopes her discoveries in host-pathogen interactions will pave the way for more disease-resistant crop varieties and reduce reliance on chemical treatments — directly impacting sustainability and environmental stewardship. 

When asked what advice she offers to aspiring scientists, Ameen was extremely encouraging and offered the following tips: 

• Identify your niche and be the best in it.
• Plan your workdays efficiently and follow through, so you can make progress on each aspect of professional development without taking time away from your family and/or fun.
• There is no such thing as luck; just consistent hard work that will lead you to success.
• Find meaningful collaborators and mentors not just in your field but beyond, and don’t hesitate to talk.
• Finally, expose yourself to a lot of different things, take chances and carry out a reflective assessment after the fact. 

Ameen, who earned both her master’s and doctoral degrees from North Dakota State University, has built her career around solving complex plant immunity challenges. Her Ph.D. work focused on cloning resistance genes in barley, while her master’s thesis explored fungal sensitivity to fungicides. 

Ameen’s recognition by the American Phytopathological Society’s highlights not just her personal achievements, but a growing legacy of discovery, education and service in the field of plant pathology.