n 1988, Dr. Richard Dixon joined the staff of the world-renown Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation after working in biochemistry research and teaching at the University of London, UK. He received his initial training in plant biochemistry at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
As Director of the Plant Biology Division, Dixon is responsible for developing programs for the division which is now internationally recognized for its work on the genetics and biochemistry of plant-microbe interactions and plant natural products. During the past 3 years, the Division has taken a leadership position in developing the legume Medicago truncatula, a close relative of alfalfa, as a model genetic crop.

      In addition to investing over $10 million in Medicago-related research infrastructure on the Ardmore campus, the Foundation has also funded the first stage of a complete genome sequence of Medicago at the University of Oklahoma.
     Dr. Richard Dixon pursued his American Dream in Ardmore for some very good reasons:

This will have enormous impacts for agriculture throughout the world. "Living in Ardmore has been a very positive factor in my career. There can be few places where an internationally pre-eminent research institute is located in a relatively small rural town. I travel extensively for my work, both in the U.S. and throughout the world, and it is always great to come back to a peaceful and pleasant town where the rat race is seemingly avoided but where great things are happening."