Imad Neal Saab, Ph.D.
Senior Science Program Manager at IAFNS - Advancing Food and Nutrition Sciences- Claim this Profile
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English Native or bilingual proficiency
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French Limited working proficiency
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Arabic Native or bilingual proficiency
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Bio
Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes
Imad’s deep technical knowledge of crop and seed science, biotechnology, crop protection science, regulatory science, regulatory and agricultural policy puts him in small group of experts who understand a broad and fast evolving swath of modern agriculture. His broad experience with R&D organizations, associations, stakeholder groups, and government puts him in an even smaller group of experts who understand how to translate science to products and how to enable change in organizations, institutions and markets. His ability to effortlessly and effectively communicate with diverse audiences on highly technical issues make him unique. Imad’s respectful and caring demeanor puts people at ease and fosters trust. He can converse with academicians, industrialists, regulators, policy makers, agriculturalists and other stakeholders with equal ease. He can teach as effectively in front of a classroom. Imad has been a perennial favorite in our training programs that bring senior regulators and policy makers from around the world to the University of Missouri. It is always a treat to work with Imad and I can think of few advocates of science and agriculture that could match his abilities, experience, and skills.
Spencer Mortensen
Imad and I worked together on some very complicated and challenging environmental issues during the last few years. Imad's ability to dig in, understand the issue at hand and help lead our industry through these issues was an inspiration to me. I have appreciated Imad's effective communication skills and his ability to work in a pro-active manner with many different personalities. I also appreciate Imad's understanding of scientific and political solutions and how to integrate both into a successful resolution. Imad's "can do" leadership philosophy allowed our team to be creative and think outside of the box while ensuring that we did not lose track of our goal and what was possible within our budgetary constraints. In short, I highly recommend Imad to anyone seeking a bright, highly-motivated patient leader who loves his work and enjoys helping others succeed.
Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes
Imad’s deep technical knowledge of crop and seed science, biotechnology, crop protection science, regulatory science, regulatory and agricultural policy puts him in small group of experts who understand a broad and fast evolving swath of modern agriculture. His broad experience with R&D organizations, associations, stakeholder groups, and government puts him in an even smaller group of experts who understand how to translate science to products and how to enable change in organizations, institutions and markets. His ability to effortlessly and effectively communicate with diverse audiences on highly technical issues make him unique. Imad’s respectful and caring demeanor puts people at ease and fosters trust. He can converse with academicians, industrialists, regulators, policy makers, agriculturalists and other stakeholders with equal ease. He can teach as effectively in front of a classroom. Imad has been a perennial favorite in our training programs that bring senior regulators and policy makers from around the world to the University of Missouri. It is always a treat to work with Imad and I can think of few advocates of science and agriculture that could match his abilities, experience, and skills.
Spencer Mortensen
Imad and I worked together on some very complicated and challenging environmental issues during the last few years. Imad's ability to dig in, understand the issue at hand and help lead our industry through these issues was an inspiration to me. I have appreciated Imad's effective communication skills and his ability to work in a pro-active manner with many different personalities. I also appreciate Imad's understanding of scientific and political solutions and how to integrate both into a successful resolution. Imad's "can do" leadership philosophy allowed our team to be creative and think outside of the box while ensuring that we did not lose track of our goal and what was possible within our budgetary constraints. In short, I highly recommend Imad to anyone seeking a bright, highly-motivated patient leader who loves his work and enjoys helping others succeed.
Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes
Imad’s deep technical knowledge of crop and seed science, biotechnology, crop protection science, regulatory science, regulatory and agricultural policy puts him in small group of experts who understand a broad and fast evolving swath of modern agriculture. His broad experience with R&D organizations, associations, stakeholder groups, and government puts him in an even smaller group of experts who understand how to translate science to products and how to enable change in organizations, institutions and markets. His ability to effortlessly and effectively communicate with diverse audiences on highly technical issues make him unique. Imad’s respectful and caring demeanor puts people at ease and fosters trust. He can converse with academicians, industrialists, regulators, policy makers, agriculturalists and other stakeholders with equal ease. He can teach as effectively in front of a classroom. Imad has been a perennial favorite in our training programs that bring senior regulators and policy makers from around the world to the University of Missouri. It is always a treat to work with Imad and I can think of few advocates of science and agriculture that could match his abilities, experience, and skills.
Spencer Mortensen
Imad and I worked together on some very complicated and challenging environmental issues during the last few years. Imad's ability to dig in, understand the issue at hand and help lead our industry through these issues was an inspiration to me. I have appreciated Imad's effective communication skills and his ability to work in a pro-active manner with many different personalities. I also appreciate Imad's understanding of scientific and political solutions and how to integrate both into a successful resolution. Imad's "can do" leadership philosophy allowed our team to be creative and think outside of the box while ensuring that we did not lose track of our goal and what was possible within our budgetary constraints. In short, I highly recommend Imad to anyone seeking a bright, highly-motivated patient leader who loves his work and enjoys helping others succeed.
Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes
Imad’s deep technical knowledge of crop and seed science, biotechnology, crop protection science, regulatory science, regulatory and agricultural policy puts him in small group of experts who understand a broad and fast evolving swath of modern agriculture. His broad experience with R&D organizations, associations, stakeholder groups, and government puts him in an even smaller group of experts who understand how to translate science to products and how to enable change in organizations, institutions and markets. His ability to effortlessly and effectively communicate with diverse audiences on highly technical issues make him unique. Imad’s respectful and caring demeanor puts people at ease and fosters trust. He can converse with academicians, industrialists, regulators, policy makers, agriculturalists and other stakeholders with equal ease. He can teach as effectively in front of a classroom. Imad has been a perennial favorite in our training programs that bring senior regulators and policy makers from around the world to the University of Missouri. It is always a treat to work with Imad and I can think of few advocates of science and agriculture that could match his abilities, experience, and skills.
Spencer Mortensen
Imad and I worked together on some very complicated and challenging environmental issues during the last few years. Imad's ability to dig in, understand the issue at hand and help lead our industry through these issues was an inspiration to me. I have appreciated Imad's effective communication skills and his ability to work in a pro-active manner with many different personalities. I also appreciate Imad's understanding of scientific and political solutions and how to integrate both into a successful resolution. Imad's "can do" leadership philosophy allowed our team to be creative and think outside of the box while ensuring that we did not lose track of our goal and what was possible within our budgetary constraints. In short, I highly recommend Imad to anyone seeking a bright, highly-motivated patient leader who loves his work and enjoys helping others succeed.
Credentials
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Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)
DuPontDec, 2001- Oct, 2024
Experience
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IAFNS - Advancing Food and Nutrition Sciences
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United States
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Research
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Science Program Manager
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Oct 2018 - Present
-Lead science committees on food safety, caffeine consumption and packaging recycling/sustainability -Work collaboratively with stakeholders from industry, government and academia to drive goals -Organize and lead symposia and roundtables to chart future research areas -Advise IAFNS leadership on strategic planning and research initiatives -Lead science committees on food safety, caffeine consumption and packaging recycling/sustainability -Work collaboratively with stakeholders from industry, government and academia to drive goals -Organize and lead symposia and roundtables to chart future research areas -Advise IAFNS leadership on strategic planning and research initiatives
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Principal and Consultant
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Feb 2018 - Present
Drawing on 30-plus years experience in product development and stakeholder outreach, I provide solutions to companies in the food and agriculture sectors as well as investment firms in: -Risk assessments for agricultural biotechnology, gene editing and pesticide products -Consultation with regulatory agencies -Market valuation of current and future agricultural technologies Drawing on 30-plus years experience in product development and stakeholder outreach, I provide solutions to companies in the food and agriculture sectors as well as investment firms in: -Risk assessments for agricultural biotechnology, gene editing and pesticide products -Consultation with regulatory agencies -Market valuation of current and future agricultural technologies
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CropLife America
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United States
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Farming
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Director, Environmental Policy
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Mar 2016 - Jan 2018
-Developed strategies for engaging regulatory agencies and promoting risk-based assessments -Managed major committees and technical working groups focused on pesticide exposure, environmental toxicology and endangered species protection -Led development of consensus policy paper on assessment of pesticide risks to endangered species -Drafted Congressional testimonies -Delivered regular updates to Board of Directors and Strategic Oversight Council -Developed comments to EPA… Show more -Developed strategies for engaging regulatory agencies and promoting risk-based assessments -Managed major committees and technical working groups focused on pesticide exposure, environmental toxicology and endangered species protection -Led development of consensus policy paper on assessment of pesticide risks to endangered species -Drafted Congressional testimonies -Delivered regular updates to Board of Directors and Strategic Oversight Council -Developed comments to EPA dockets on ecological risk assessments and endangered species -Organized conference symposia with speakers from industry, US regulatory agencies and academia -Engaged EPA on assessment of pesticide mixtures and drove successful outcome for members -Represented CLA and its members via media interviews Show less -Developed strategies for engaging regulatory agencies and promoting risk-based assessments -Managed major committees and technical working groups focused on pesticide exposure, environmental toxicology and endangered species protection -Led development of consensus policy paper on assessment of pesticide risks to endangered species -Drafted Congressional testimonies -Delivered regular updates to Board of Directors and Strategic Oversight Council -Developed comments to EPA… Show more -Developed strategies for engaging regulatory agencies and promoting risk-based assessments -Managed major committees and technical working groups focused on pesticide exposure, environmental toxicology and endangered species protection -Led development of consensus policy paper on assessment of pesticide risks to endangered species -Drafted Congressional testimonies -Delivered regular updates to Board of Directors and Strategic Oversight Council -Developed comments to EPA dockets on ecological risk assessments and endangered species -Organized conference symposia with speakers from industry, US regulatory agencies and academia -Engaged EPA on assessment of pesticide mixtures and drove successful outcome for members -Represented CLA and its members via media interviews Show less
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Senior Manager, Biotech & Business Affairs, DuPont Pioneer
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Feb 2013 - Mar 2016
Delivered multiple capacity building modules on risk assessment of biotech crops to regulators and stakeholders from over 25 countries from North and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia Led strategic efforts to manage low-level presence of ag biotech products in global grain trade Led engagement with US and global seed associations on regulation of new breeding techniques such as CRISPR Engaged OSTP and members of Congress on streamlining regulation of agricultural… Show more Delivered multiple capacity building modules on risk assessment of biotech crops to regulators and stakeholders from over 25 countries from North and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia Led strategic efforts to manage low-level presence of ag biotech products in global grain trade Led engagement with US and global seed associations on regulation of new breeding techniques such as CRISPR Engaged OSTP and members of Congress on streamlining regulation of agricultural biotechnology Represented DuPont on the Global Alliance of Ag Biotech Trade, a coalition of grower groups, grain handlers and biotech companies. www.gaabt.org Co-authored policy papers on breeding innovations and low-level presence and helped drive consensus between the biotech industry and grain trade
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Research Lead, Seed Science
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1998 - Feb 2013
Led Pioneer’s effort to improve seed quality resulting in enhanced early-season performance and market share gains in early-planted environments Led development of the Pioneer Stress Test, the primary quality assessment tool for Pioneer’s multi-billion-dollar global seed corn production (patent issued) Evaluated seed treatments for early-season performance in support of marketing goals Managed field trials in US, Canada, Europe and Latin America Achieved Six… Show more Led Pioneer’s effort to improve seed quality resulting in enhanced early-season performance and market share gains in early-planted environments Led development of the Pioneer Stress Test, the primary quality assessment tool for Pioneer’s multi-billion-dollar global seed corn production (patent issued) Evaluated seed treatments for early-season performance in support of marketing goals Managed field trials in US, Canada, Europe and Latin America Achieved Six Sigma Black Belt Certification with over $2 million in validated savings Recruited and managed scientists, research associates, administrative staff and interns Delivered management advice annually to approx. 1000 farmers in the US and Canada Authored multiple extension publications (pioneer.com/home/site/us/agronomy) Represented DuPont Pioneer via radio, TV interviews and farm publications
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E.I. DuPont De Nemours
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United States
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1 - 100 Employee
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Six Sigma Black Belt (Certified)
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2000 - 2002
Completed and validated four projects with recurring annual savings in excess of $2 million Led diverse teams encompassing research, production, sales and external biotech collaborators Completed and validated four projects with recurring annual savings in excess of $2 million Led diverse teams encompassing research, production, sales and external biotech collaborators
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Higher Education
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Research Development Specialist
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1993 - 1997
Managed research program on molecular biology of anaerobic stress Cloned and characterized genes associated with cell wall metabolism Secured competitive funds from the United States Department of Agriculture Supervised undergraduate student research Managed research program on molecular biology of anaerobic stress Cloned and characterized genes associated with cell wall metabolism Secured competitive funds from the United States Department of Agriculture Supervised undergraduate student research
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Education
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Cornell University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Crop Science -
American University of Beirut
Master of Science (MS), Agronomy -
American University of Beirut
Bachelor of Science (BS), Crop Production and Protection