Department of Botany and Plant Pathology

Plant population and evolutionary genetics, genetic mechanisms of adaptation

• Our research focuses on four main areas: (1) studying the genetic basis of adaptation through the integration of genomic (transcriptomic) and quantitative variation; (2) studying the evolutionary genetic history of the pine family; (3) defining mutation rates in conifers to understand their significance in evolutionary and population level processes; and (4) defining patterns of neutral differentiation as a foundation for understanding quantitative variation in restoration plant species.

Research Group Members

Faculty Research Assistants/Associates

• Tara Jennings (Research Technician, conifer population genetics)