Clayton Carley recently graduated from Iowa State University with a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics & Genomics with a specialization in predictive plant phenomics. While at Iowa State, Clayton worked with the Singh Soybean Breeding and Soynomics group, where he researched novel methods of improving and leveraging soybean root genetics. As a National Science Foundation Predictive Plant Phenomics Research Trainee, he engaged in numerous transdisciplinary collaborations with engineers and data scientists and worked to develop innovative methods of extracting data from roots by building the Soybean Nodule Acquisition Pipeline, or SNAP, a machine learning system to count and gain insights on soybean nodules and root system architecture. With this work, he found useful relationships between taproot nodules and seed protein and redefined nodulation for future improvements in soybean breeding. He evaluated numerous soybean lines to identify and propose some of the underlying genes controlling root system architecture and nodulation traits.
Clayton currently works with Corteva Agriscience, based in Johnston, Iowa, as the Field Experimentation Lead over the Central and Eastern United States. In this role, he oversees numerous small plot and on-farm trials to drive innovative science and create value for farmers through Corteva’s Research and Development -Farming Solutions and Digital team.
