Laurie B Leonelli

Laurie B Leonelli serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she leads research at the intersection of plant molecular biology and agricultural engineering.

Her primary research focuses include:

• Photosynthesis optimization in crop plants
• Mechanisms of photoprotection and non-photochemical quenching
• Genetic engineering of Arabidopsis thaliana and Vigna unguiculata
• Water use efficiency enhancement through PsbS protein manipulation
• Responses to fluctuating light conditions in agricultural settings

Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strong trajectory toward translational agricultural science, with emphasis on accelerating photoprotection recovery to boost crop yields. Her work spans molecular techniques like DamID-seq for DNA methylation analysis to field-applicable solutions such as water-efficient crop engineering, demonstrating integration across basic plant science and practical agricultural innovation.

Dr. Leonelli's research impact is evidenced by a U.S. patent (No. 12054727) and coverage from 14 news outlets, with significant scholarly engagement reflected in Mendeley readership across multiple publications. She maintains active collaborations with plant biologists, geneticists, and environmental engineers as shown by co-authorship on diverse projects from mycoremediation to genome-wide epigenetic studies.