Katherine Murphy

Katie Murphy is a PhD Candidate in the Zerbe Lab at UC Davis. Her research focuses on diterpenoid biosynthesis in maize and how these molecules relate to the plant stress response. In particular, Katie is interested in a novel class of metabolites called dolabralexins, including the genes that control their production and their role in fungal stress, abiotic stress, and in shaping the rhizosphere microbiome.

She holds a B.S. in chemistry from Stanford University, where she studied anther development in maize with Dr. Virginia Walbot. She was a Science Advancement Manager intern for TechAccel, an agricultural investment and development firm. Katie is the 2019 Early Career Representative to the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Women in Plant Biology Committee and ASPB Ambassador.