Research

Research Priorities: Analysis of biosynthetic enzymes of fatty acids, regulatory mechanisms to control the composition of membrane lipids, molecular genetics of lipid signalling

Katayoon Dehesh is a biologist and biochemist. She works on the mechanisms of plant defence systems and biofuels.

Katayoon Dehesh is conducting research on how organisms perceive and respond to developmental and environmental stimuli through tightly regulated inter- and intracellular communication networks. In the field of plant defence systems she is focused specifically on communication signals from the metabolic centre, i.e. communication from the chloroplasts to other cellular organelles. These signals play a key role in the integrity of the organism and in its adaptation to prevailing environmental conditions. Katayoon Dehesh has found that chloroplasts adapt their metabolic pathway in response to stress.

In the field of biofuels, Katayoon Dehesh is working on channelling the metabolism of sugar in plants in such a way that it induces oil biosynthesis instead of converting glucose to starch. In practical terms this could significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lead to the replacement of a large proportion of fossil fuels.

Career

• since 2016 Director, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, USA
• since 2016 Ernst and Helen Leibacher Endowed Chair in Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, USA
• 1977 PhD, Plant Physiology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
• 1973 Bachelor of Science, Pahlavi University (today: Shiraz University), Shiraz, Iran

Honours and Memberships

• since 2017 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• 2013/14    College of Biological Sciences Faculty Teaching Award, University of California, Davis, USA
• 2013 Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), USA
• 2012 Honorary Professor, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
• 2011 Paul K. and Ruth R. Stumpf Professor of Plant Biochemistry, University of California, Davis, USA
• 2009 Excellence in Education Award, University of California, Davis, USA
• 2002 Monsanto Fellow
• 1974 National Award, Iran
• 1974 Pahlavi Foundation Award, Higher Education Ministry, Iran
• 1972 Pahlavi University Award, Shiraz, Iran