Joanne Chory

Joanne Chory is a renowned Professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. She leads the Harnessing Plants Initiative (HPI), focusing on mitigating climate change through plant-based carbon sequestration. Her research expertise spans plant genetics, molecular biology, and environmental biology, particularly in understanding how plants adapt to environmental changes. Chory earned her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Illinois and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. She has pioneered studies on plant steroid hormones and their roles in growth regulation. Her awards include the Wolf Prize in Agriculture (2024), Benjamin Franklin Medal (2024), and Breakthrough Prize (2018). Chory’s work integrates genetics, biochemistry, and environmental science to address global challenges. Her lab at Salk employs advanced genetic tools to study plant responses to light, temperature, and stress. Notable contributions include discovering plant steroid hormone pathways and optimizing root systems to enhance carbon storage. Chory’s initiatives aim to develop plants that sequester more carbon in suberin-rich roots, contributing to climate change solutions while improving agricultural yields. She mentors students and postdocs, emphasizing curiosity-driven science and real-world impact.