Jill Zeilstra-Ryalls

Dr. Jill Zeilstra-Ryalls is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Bowling Green State University's College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University and leads research on bacterial molecular mechanisms using Rhodobacter sphaeroides as a model organism. Her laboratory employs genetic and biochemical approaches to study metabolic adaptation and regulatory networks.

Her research focuses on two primary areas: 1) Environmental signal transduction at the molecular level, investigating how bacteria sense and respond to oxygen and light conditions; 2) Protein evolutionary engineering, examining structure-function relationships in isoenzymes. Recent work explores bioremediation applications and sustainable bioproduct synthesis.

Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on bacterial stress responses, gene regulation, and metabolic engineering from 2001-2011. Her work integrates genomics (transcriptome analysis with Affymetrix chips), molecular genetics (mutant construction), and applied microbiology (biohydrogen/bioplastic production).

She has mentored multiple graduate students as research advisees, with six identified through co-authored publications.