Justin Walley, professor in plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, is the recipient of the faculty 2025 Mid-Career Achievement in Research Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. He is an innovative plant biologist whose research on plant gene regulatory networks and responses to plant pathogens is internationally recognized.
Walley’s lab does cutting-edge research in the ‘omics of plant-microbe interactions and plant biology. His research is providing plant biologists with new ways to discover and view the networks of genes controlling plant development and response to environmental stimuli. His research team is pushing the boundaries of proteomics and systems biology through the development and application of novel methods that enable greater coverage of the proteome, new insights into post-translational protein modifications, new approaches for data analysis and interpretation, and cutting-edge methods for identifying protein-protein interactions occurring in plant cells.
Walley is a highly sought after collaborator whose research is impacting the fields of plant biology and animal biology. He has been invited to speak at international conferences and symposia in Germany, Chile, Belgium and Israel, and several universities in the United States and Canada. His research program is funded by numerous federal sources.
A colleague stated, “Walley is an internationally recognized researcher who is enhancing the field of plant biology through the application of state-of-the-art quantitative proteomics and systems biology approaches. He is a leader whose original research in basic plant sciences has provided unparalleled insight into gene regulatory networks, and at the same time, has enabled other researchers by providing new methods and demonstrating what is now possible.”
In addition to research, Walley contributes to the educational mission of Iowa State. He has served as the chair and director of graduate education for the bioinformatics and computational biology interdepartmental graduate program. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in bioinformatics and plant-microbe interactions. Walley serves on the committees of 24 doctorate students and has served on the committees of 21 doctorate students who have completed their degrees in several different majors.
A colleague stated, “Walley has systematically attacked big problems with novel approaches. He is an outstanding investigator. His thinking is original, his scholarship is comprehensive, and his execution at the bench is at the highest level of the craft. He has a talent for mentoring and leadership, and a balanced commitment to professional and personal goals.”