Katie Liberatore, Ph.D.

Katie’s interest in science was sparked in high school by enthusiastic science teachers and mentors at Rio Rancho High School and through an opportunity to perform research at the UNM Cancer Research Center. While in high school Katie competed and placed in the Central NM, NM State and International Science and Engineering Fair (2003).

Katie completed her postdoctoral work at the USDA Cereal Disease Laboratory in St. Paul, MN (University of Minnesota campus). She holds a Ph.D. from the School of Biological Sciences at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York and a B.S. in Biology from UNM. Through the UNM honors program and as a UNM/NIH Postbaccalaureate Research scholar, she also had the unique opportunity to perform molecular ecology and field research over three summers at Lizard Island Research Station in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

Currently, Katie is the Executive Director of Operations at Cibus, a biotechnology leader in production of gene edited plant traits. She has been a key operations leader since the merger between Cibus and Calyxt in June 2023. At Calyxt since 2018, Katie held a variety of leadership positions, including roles with oversight of both R&D operations and research functions. Notably, she contributed to the launch of the first gene-edited food product on the market, the Calyno High Oleic Soybean Oil product.

Katie is an avid supporter of science education and places great emphasis on student participation in STEM programs. Katie has been a dedicated volunteer in science fairs/research challenge programs and other local outreach events. She also enjoys gardening, cooking, time outdoors with her family, and quilting.