Ximing Guo, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences (DMCS) at Rutgers University, has been honored by the Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin (WRA) with its 2026 Samuel S. Baxter Memorial Award. The award recognizes individuals who best exemplify WRA’s mission through contributions to sound water management.
A renowned shellfish geneticist, Guo has been based at the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory since joining Rutgers as a postdoctoral fellow in 1992. He was formally recognized by WRA on April 23 for his transformative research, which has reshaped global aquaculture and strengthened the resilience of the Delaware Bay, as captured in WRA’s tribute to Guo.
“I want to see oyster resources rebound and oyster farming flourish, strengthening the health of the Delaware Bay and supporting the livelihoods of the coastal communities that depend on it. I hope our research contributes to that goal in a meaningful way,” said Guo.
Over the course of his career, Guo has focused on understanding the genetics of shellfish populations and their cultivation in Delaware Bay and beyond. His work has established him as a global leader in the field, marked by numerous significant contributions. In 2013, he was named “Inventor of the Year” by the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame for his innovations in shellfish genetics.
L-R: Jillian Jamieson, laboratory researcher and doctoral student in the Guo lab; Dave Bushek, director of Rutgers Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory; Distinguished Professor Ximing Guo; and Sam Ratcliff, operations manager at Rutgers Cape Shore Laboratory and doctoral candidate in the Guo lab. Photo: Courtesy of WRA.
L-R: Jillian Jamieson, laboratory researcher and doctoral student in the Guo lab; Dave Bushek, director of Rutgers Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory; Distinguished Professor Ximing Guo; and Sam Ratcliff, operations manager at Rutgers Cape Shore Laboratory and doctoral candidate in the Guo lab. Photo: Courtesy of WRA.
Guo leads the Shellfish Breeding and Genetics Program at the Haskin Lab, an internationally recognized center for fisheries and aquaculture research, particularly on species of commercial importance to New Jersey. He is also a lead principal investigator and key architect of the East Coast Oyster Breeding Consortium, and a co-investigator on the Hard Clam Breeding Consortium.
“Dr. Guo’s work provides a foundation on which we build many other programs supporting shellfish research, production and conservation benefiting the state, the region and beyond,” said David Bushek, professor in DMCS and director of the Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory.
Read the full story in Rutgers Newsroom here.