Lori Adams

Lori Adams is a Teaching Professor and the Director of the Iowa Sciences Academy (ISA) at the University of Iowa, within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Department of Biology. Her work focuses on plant defense mechanisms, ethylene signal transduction, and scientific communication, with expertise in biomedical model organisms such as yeast, mice, zebrafish, Xenopus, C. elegans, and Arabidopsis.

• Education
  • BS in Crop Science, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana
  • PhD in Genetics, Texas A&M University

Lori's research centers on molecular mechanisms of plant-pathogen interactions, stress response signaling, and education program design. She has received federal, institutional, and donor funding to support undergraduate research initiatives through the ISA.

Her most recent publications explore evolutionary genetics of β-catenin transactivation, poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in plant immunity, and gene expression dynamics in Arabidopsis and tomato systems.

• Scientific Awards
  • National Academies Education Mentor in the Life Sciences
  • NIH National Research Mentoring Network Master Facilitator
  • CIMER Principal Facilitator

Lori leads the Iowa Sciences Academy, which offers undergraduate research training, scientific communication workshops (BIOL:1808 Ways of Knowing Science, LATH:3000 Science Communication Skill Development), and professional development seminars (ISA:1000-4000 Student Development Seminars). She also serves on the CTSA+ National Community of Practice on Mentorship Steering Committee.

Contact: lori-adams@uiowa.edu