Laura Bartley

Laura Bartley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at Washington State University (WSU), located in the Plant Sciences Building. Her research focuses on understanding plant cell wall synthesis and regulation, particularly in bioenergy crops like switchgrass and rice. She leads the Bartley Lab, which explores how environmental factors influence plant cell wall composition and functionality.

Dr. Bartley holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University (2002). Her work integrates molecular genetics, biochemistry, and systems biology approaches to address challenges in sustainable agriculture and bioenergy production. Key areas include optimizing biomass for biorefining, improving root architecture for carbon sequestration, and studying plant signaling pathways.

Her research interests span:

• Grass cell wall hydroxycinnamate modification
• Root development and soil carbon dynamics
• Receptor-like kinase signaling networks
• Climate adaptation in polyploid plants

Recent work emphasizes engineering plant traits for bioenergy applications, including enhancing saccharification efficiency through metabolic engineering and analyzing root traits as natural climate solutions. Collaborations with the Center for Bioenergy Innovation advance these translational goals.

Technical innovations include developing the Rapid-Tome microtome for plant sectioning (2023) and creating genome-scale networks to identify cell wall regulators. Her lab also investigates how environmental stresses influence cell wall properties and plant-microbe interactions.

Publications highlight discoveries in lignin modification, BAHD acyltransferase functions, and receptor kinase networks. Current projects aim to link cell wall traits with physiological performance (e.g., photosynthesis, stress tolerance) and improve biomass production in marginal environments.