Jo Anne Powell-Coffman

Jo Anne Powell-Coffman is a Professor and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University. She holds a B.S. from University of California, Davis (1986) and a Ph.D. from University of California, San Diego (1993).

Research Focus: Her work spans Developmental Genetics, Cellular Hypoxia Response, and Biomedical Mechanisms, with particular emphasis on HIF-1 regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans and oxygen homeostasis networks. She also contributes to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning through pedagogical studies in STEM education.

Recent Publications highlight her dual expertise in molecular genetics (hypoxia response in nematodes) and STEM education reform, with studies appearing in journals like PNAS and CBE Life Sciences. Her research integrates computational biology with functional genomics.

Scientific Awards:

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Award for Diversity Enhancement (2011)
• ISU Award for Early Achievement in Departmental Leadership (2015)
• American Heart Association Established Investigator Award
• Bailey Research Career Development Award
• PULSE Leadership Fellowship (2012)

Funding & Leadership: Research supported by NSF, NIH, NASA, and AHA grants. Served as GDCB Department Chair (2011-2018), Interdepartmental Genetics Program Chair (2010-2011), and GDCB ADVANCE Professor (2007-2009). Currently advises graduate students and leads institutional research initiatives.