Dior Kelley

Dior Kelley is an Assistant Professor at Iowa State University's Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology. Her research focuses on auxin signaling, plant development, and proteomics, particularly in Arabidopsis and maize. She joined Iowa State in 2015 after completing a Ph.D. in Plant Biology at UC Davis (2009) and a B.S. in Chemistry from UC Santa Cruz (2000).

Education:

• B.S., Chemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, 2000
• Ph.D., Plant Biology, University of California Davis, 2009

Research Interests:
Dr. Kelley investigates how auxin directs plant growth and development. Key areas include auxin-regulated proteomes, root morphogenesis, and the interplay between auxin and cell wall dynamics. Her work integrates molecular genetics, systems biology, and biochemistry to understand hormone-mediated processes in maize and Arabidopsis. Recent studies highlight roles for myosins like ATM1 in sugar-dependent growth and GAUT10 in pectin biosynthesis.

Publications:
Her recent work includes studies on maize root development, ubiquitination networks, and auxin signaling. Notable findings include the identification of ZmPILS6 as an auxin efflux carrier and the role of ATM1 in root meristem function.

Grants and Collaborations:
Funded by NSF (MCB Award 2419621 and IOS Award 2118253), her lab collaborates with researchers like Justin Walley and Olga Zabotina. Projects include the Arabidopsis root ubiquitinome and maize root physiology.

Labs and Teams:
Her lab (Kelley Lab) focuses on auxin-mediated processes, combining proteomics, genetics, and phenotyping to advance plant science and crop resilience.