Laura Moody

Dr. Laura Moody is an Associate Professor in Molecular Plant Biology and a Royal Society University Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. She is also a Tutorial Fellow at St John’s College. Her research focuses on understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying the 2D-to-3D growth transition in early land plants, particularly the moss Physcomitrium patens. This transition is critical for plant adaptation to terrestrial environments. Dr. Moody employs innovative approaches to elucidate the genetic networks enabling this pivotal developmental shift, addressing fundamental questions about plant evolution and terrestrialization.

Her work leverages the unique growth phases of Physcomitrium patens, which allows experimental disruption of 3D growth without lethality. Key interests include the roles of proteins like N-Acetyltransferase-MAPK, prion-like proteins, and CURLY LEAF in regulating growth transitions. She investigates how these mechanisms evolved to enable land colonization, integrating molecular genetics, developmental biology, and evolutionary perspectives.

• Research Awards: Royal Society University Research Fellowship.

Dr. Moody’s lab explores the interplay between genetics and plant morphology, aiming to uncover conserved and divergent pathways in land plant evolution. Her findings contribute to broader understanding of how genetic regulation shaped terrestrial life's establishment.