By Scout Nelson
Research in plant science can help improve crops, support farmers, and create better food products for consumers. At North Dakota State University, plant scientist Elias Elias has spent decades studying durum wheat and sharing his knowledge with students. His work connects crop breeding, disease resistance, food quality, and education.
Elias’ career in plant science began with an early interest in wheat research. His work now focuses strongly on durum wheat, a crop widely used to make pasta. He studies ways to improve important traits while also helping students gain practical research experience and skills for future careers.
Elias’ path to plant science began at Aleppo University in Syria, where he was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. During his senior year, he completed his first research project on wheat. That early experience helped shape his interest in research and encouraged him to continue his education.
“That was my very first research that I had to do, and I had to write like a small dissertation. At that time, I thought, okay, I really like this. Maybe I should continue this,” Elias said.
After completing his undergraduate education, Elias earned a master’s degree in plant pathology from Montana State University. He later came to NDSU to complete his doctorate in agronomy. Throughout his career, he worked with several crops, including barley and corn, while continuing to focus on durum wheat.
Durum wheat remains an important part of his research. His work examines crop traits that matter to farmers, food manufacturers, and consumers. These traits include crop yield, protein levels, grain quality, and characteristics that can affect the appearance and quality of pasta.
Elias also studies diseases that can damage wheat crops. His research includes efforts to improve resistance to disease and develop durum wheat varieties with lower cadmium uptake. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that can occur naturally in soil and can create health concerns when it enters food.
Elias’ research has also contributed to the economic value of durum wheat in North Dakota. In recent years, durum wheat has contributed significantly to the state’s economy, while varieties developed through his research are growing across much of the state’s durum acreage. High-quality North Dakota durum wheat also supports demand in international markets.
Elias’ contributions have earned several honors. He was named Durum Man of the Year by the U.S. Durum Growers Association in 1999. He also received NDSU’s Larson/Yaggie Excellence in Research Award and the Waldron Award for Excellence in Research.
After 36 years at NDSU, Elias continues to share lessons from his research career with students. Persistence is one of the most important lessons he teaches. Research does not always produce the expected result, but unsuccessful experiments can provide information that helps researchers try a new approach.
“In research, you have successful days and sometimes you may not have successful days. So don't let the unsuccessful days put you down. You just say, okay, this will not work, I'll try something completely different,” Elias said. “Just keep your heads up and keep working. Eventually, you'll find success sooner or later.”
Students are also an important part of Elias’ research. He describes his laboratory as a partnership in which students learn research skills while contributing to ongoing projects. This approach gives students practical experience and helps researchers continue their work.
“Without the students, you cannot do it all by yourself. The students play a critical role, and also at the same time, they get educated. We show them how to do things, but it's beneficial for both of us. We gain something from them, and they gain something for us. So, I call it a partnership more than anything else,” Elias said.
Elias’ former students have continued their careers with major companies, universities, and other organizations. Some have worked for companies such as Nestlé and the American Italian Pasta Company. Their careers are an important part of how Elias views his own success as an educator and researcher.
“The way I think I'm successful is when my students do better than me,” Elias said. “Every one of them that I graduated, Ph.D. or master’s, they have jobs with companies, with universities, and are very successful people. That's how I measure my success.”
Elias also values NDSU’s land-grant mission and its strong connection to agriculture. North Dakota has major crop programs involving spring wheat, durum, barley, flax, and oats. These crops provide a strong setting for research, education, and plant breeding.
“We are the only university, probably, in the United States that has breeding programs for all these different crops,” Elias said. “We have everything we need here at NDSU. We are well supported by commodity groups in North Dakota. Research is good and research generates results and education.”
Looking ahead, Elias continues to focus on developing high-yielding durum wheat varieties with improved quality, disease resistance, and low cadmium uptake. His work shows how long-term research and education can support farmers, consumers, and the agricultural industry.
“Everything is available to you at NDSU. There's no reason for you not to be successful,” Elias said.
Photo Credit: North Dakota State University
Categories: North Dakota, Crops, Wheat