Dr. Zamir K. Punja is a Professor of Plant Pathology and Biotechnology at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada, with expertise in plant pathogens, tissue culture, and molecular biology. He completed a BSc degree in Plant Sciences at the University of British Columbia and MSc and PhD degrees in plant pathology at the University of California, Davis. He joined Simon Fraser University in 1989 as an Associate Professor and was promoted to Professor in 1996. His research interests include the etiology and management of plant diseases on vegetable and horticultural crops and the applications of plant biotechnology for disease management. Since 2018, his work has shifted to researching cannabis, where his group has described a range of previously unreported pathogens affecting the crop and has evaluated various methods for disease management. He has received numerous research and teaching awards, including the Sterling Prize for Controversy for his work on GMO foods. His current research is focused on the management of cannabis pathogens. In addition, he is renowned in the field of research and is a Fellow and past President of the Canadian Phytopathological Society.
