Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. and its parent, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., have awarded a grant to Iowa State University to establish a corn breeding program through support of a new faculty position and a graduate research position. The assistant professor position will lead research in corn breeding using advanced molecular marker and genomics technologies, teach coursework in plant breeding and advise graduate students. In addition to the grant, Pioneer will provide in-kind support to the research program through use of germplasm, laboratory and field testing resources and molecular markers, according to a news release.