Shai Joshua Lawit

About Shai Joshua Lawit

As the Director of Trait Strategy & Testing at Pairwise, I lead the strategic development and testing of crop traits for product creation in row and consumer crops. With over 20 years of experience in plant biotechnology, I have a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions that enhance crop yields, flavor, disease resistance, composition, appearance, and more. I am accountable for the global trait strategies across all crops and product segments, as well as the future pipeline strategy and discovery. I also lead the Gene Editing Program, Genomics & Bioinformatics, Trait Testing, and Controlled Environments functions across 14+ crops. I am a senior member of the R&D Leadership Team and the Pairwise Leadership Team, and a voting member of multiple B2B joint research management councils. My mission is to leverage cutting-edge technology and scientific expertise to create sustainable and impactful agricultural solutions.

Experience

1. R & d Senior Director and Head of Trait Strategy & Testing

   Pairwise

   Jul 2025 — Present · Durham, NC, US

   Strategic crop & trait R&D leader for product creation in row and specialty crops. Collaboration developer - in close partnership with Business Development; and collaboration leader across our strategic partnerships. Global accountability for trait strategies across all crops and product segments (yield, flavor, disease, composition, appearance, etc.). Accountable for Gene Editing Program Leadership, Genomics & Analytics, Trait Testing and Controlled Environments functions across 14+ crops. Senior R&D Leadership Team & Pairwise Leadership Team member.

Education

• Spruce Creek High School

  International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

• University of Florida

  Ph.D., Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

• University of Florida

  B.S., Major: Microbiology and Cell Science, Minor: Chemistry

Skills

• Apomixis
• Patent Strategy
• Mode of Action
• Biotechnology
• Research and Development (R&D)
• Yield Enhancement
• Lifesciences
• Molecular & Cellular Biology
• Research Proposals
• Molecular Genetics
• Research
• Research Design
• Grantsmanship
• Pcr
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (Pcr)
• Discovery Research
• Life Sciences
• Patent Portfolio Development
• Sequencing
• High Throughput Screening
• Molecular Cloning
• Science
• Sequence Analysis
• Genetics
• Patent Preparation
• Cell Biology
• Public Speaking
• Agriculture
• Biochemistry
• Nitrogen Assimilation
• Dna
• Genomics
• Yield Stability
• Molecular Biology