David A. Evans
April 9, 1952 - June 1, 2006

David Evans attended Ohio State University from June 1970 to June 1977 where he studied Plant Genetics. There he obtained a Bachelor of Science with distinction in 1973; a Masters of Science in 1975; and a Ph. D. in Plant Genetics in 1977. He continued his studies on plant tissue culture from 1977-1978 as a Rockefeller Foundation Fellow at Prairie Regional Laboratories in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, under Dr. Oluf Gamborg. In 1987, Dr. Evans completed his PMD from Harvard, adding a business diploma to his educational background.

Dr. Evans' life work reflects friendship and collaborations he developed while at Ohio State. After two years on the faculty at the State University of New York, Binghamton campus, he subsequently joined Dr. Rod Sharp at the Campbell Soup Company in a research management position. A year later, Evans and Sharp co-founded the DNA Plant Technology Corporation (DNAP). DNAP was established to commercialize important scientific advances in molecular and cellular genetics. Dr. Evans served DNAP as Executive Vice President of Business and Product Development, directing joint ventures with numerous companies including DuPont, Union Carbide, Kraft-General Foods, Monsanto, and FreshWorld. Over the years, DNAP grew to a $300 million operation. In 1999, Evans joined WellGen, Inc. as Chief Executive Officer and President. Dr. Evans shaped the growth of WellGen in the field of nutrigenomics until his untimely death.

Dr. David Evans holds a dozen US patents and several foreign counterparts. He published over 100 papers and edited seven books on plant tissue culture and biotechnology. Through much of his career he maintained an adjunct faculty affiliation with Rutgers University.

In addition to his business activities, Evans was an avid birder, marathon runner and racquetball competitor. At the time of his death in June 2006, David was in the final stages of preparing for an ascent of South Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro. He also was a devoted husband and friend.

As a scientist, businessman, mentor, friend and relative, David Evans is sorely missed.

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Article from Bio/Technology (PDF)

Article from Nutraceuticals World (PDF)

A page from David Evans' Ph.D. dissertation