Lori Adams
Biography
Lori Adams received a BS in Crop Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a PhD in Genetics from Texas A&M University. She completed postdoctoral research at the Boyce Thompson Institute and the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she studied plant defense responses to pathogen attack.
At the University of Iowa, Lori is recognized as a Distinguished Professor of Instruction in Biology. Her work focuses on undergraduate research development, science communication, research mentoring, and faculty development.
Current roles include:
- Director, Iowa Sciences Academy (ISA) — leads undergraduate STEM programs in mentored research, professional development, and science communication. Programs supported by the ISA include the Latham Science Engagement Initiative.
- Director of Science Engagement, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) — supports science engagement across CLAS and works with faculty on broader impacts activities for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other externally funded projects.
- Biology Honors Advisor
Lori served as a Provost Faculty Fellow from 2024-2026 and continues to lead faculty mentoring resources and Faculty Peer Mentoring Communities for University of Iowa faculty in partnership with the Office of the Provost.
She is a CIMER Principal Facilitator, an NIH National Research Mentoring Network Master Facilitator, and a National Academies Education Mentor in the Life Sciences. At Iowa, she serves as Associate Director of the Iowa Mentoring Academy and facilitates mentor development locally. Nationally, she facilitates mentor-development programs and workshops through CIMER.
Instructional Design and Teaching
- BIOL:1808 Ways of Knowing Science
- BIOL:4898 Communicating Research
- LATH:3000 Science Communication Skill Development
- LATH:3001 Science Outreach Project Implementation
- ISA:1000-4000 Student Development Seminars
Leadership and Professional Experience
- Office of the Provost, Faculty Fellow, 2024-2026
Developed and supported faculty mentoring resources and Faculty Peer Mentoring Communities - CTSA+ National Community of Practice on Mentorship, Steering Committee
- Synthesis: A Digital Journal of Student Science Communication, Editor-in-Chief
Scholarship and Professional Interests
Lori's recent scholarship and interests sit at the intersection of learning theory and educational practice with a focus on undergraduate researcher development, science communication, and mentoring. She is particularly interested in learning environments in which knowledge is constructed through social interaction, feedback, reflection, and authentic participation in scientific communities.
Her current work examines how intentionally designed science communication experiences support students' confidence and professional identity, and how generative AI is influencing learning, feedback, and assessment.
Research Training
Lori's graduate and postdoctoral training spans molecular genetics, plant biology, hormone signaling, and host-pathogen interactions, with research experience using diverse experimental systems including yeast, mice, zebrafish, Xenopus, C. elegans, and Arabidopsis. This broad research background informs her work preparing undergraduate researchers and supporting research mentors across the biosciences.
- Postdoctoral research, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Mentor: Dr. Andrew Bent
Awarded NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellowship - Graduate research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Mentor: Dr. Jim Giovannoni
Dissertation: Molecular analysis of ethylene signal transduction - Undergraduate research, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mentor: Dr. A.L. Rayburn
