Ray Layton, Ph.D.

Expert Bio

I have been interested in figuring out how things work since childhood, so it is no surprise I became a scientist. My background is in ecology, specifically looking at how ecological systems function and how they respond to different types of effects. Most of my early science work was with aquatic systems – small streams, rivers and ponds – looking at the effects of mining, agriculture, barge traffic, pesticides, etc.My interests have broadened over time, but the common theme has been risk assessment – always trying to understand (and reduce) the potential effects of various activities.

I have been at DuPont since 1989; for the first part of my career, I studied the potential environmental and human health risks of conventional chemical pesticides. Then in 2002, I moved to DuPont Pioneer where I founded and led the product safety group – a group of scientists dedicated to evaluating the environmental and human health and safety aspects of genetically modified crops.

I spend a lot of my personal time outdoors, cycling, hiking, running, paddling and working as a volunteer leader with the Boy Scouts. My goal is to use good science to leave this world, especially the outdoors that I love so much, a better place than how I found it.

Ray is no longer an employee of DuPont Pioneer. Answers from Ray were provided in his former capacity as Research Fellow for Environmental Safety.