News
Dr. Hikmet Budak selected as keynote speaker for international biotech conference
October 23, 2026Presentation to highlight two decades of life science progress alongside the emergence of AI-enabled genomics in food security research
Yuma, Ariz. (October 23, 2026) – Dr. Hikmet Budak, Director of Agriculture at Arizona Western College (AWC), has been selected as a keynote speaker for the Annual International Conference on Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (AICBB). The conference brings together scientific experts to address critical challenges and emerging innovations in biotechnology.
Dr. Budak’s presentation, “Twenty Years of Genomics: Scientific Advances, Technological Innovations, and Future Prospects,” will outline the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in biological science, specifically in regard to sustainable agriculture and food security.
The presentation will also highlight Dr. Budak’s published and ongoing research, including newly developed AI and ML programs for gene annotation and identification in plants and insects.
"I am honored and humbled to be selected as a keynote speaker,” Dr. Budak said. “Sharing insights of AI in genomics and genetics with such a passionate global audience is both a privilege and a profound responsibility. This recognition provides a great opportunity to showcase the work and impact of AWC and the Entrepreneurial College.”
A renowned geneticist and genomicist, Dr. Budak serves as a board member for the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC), Scientific Advisor to CuriGenomics, and the USDA and NSF. Recently, he was awarded the USDA Kekika La Fellow and Achievement Award by WORLD COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY.
The conference will take place July 5-7, 2027, in Vienna, Austria.
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Contact:
Dr. Hikmet Budak
Director of Agriculture Programs
Arizona Western College
hikmet.budak1@azwestern.edu
(928) 344-7742