Yezi Xiang is a Research Fellow in the Department of Biology at Duke University, affiliated with the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. Their research focuses on plant biology, molecular mechanisms of immunity, and evolutionary processes. Key areas include translational regulation in plant stress responses, mRNA modifications (e.g., m6A), and the evolutionary origins of plant structures like fruits and ovaries. Research grants include a National Science Foundation-funded project on plant immune mechanisms (2017–2026) and a National Institute of General Medical Sciences grant investigating salicylic acid’s role in immunity (2016–2026). Publications span topics from RNA dynamics in immunity to phylogenetic analyses of plant families like Rosaceae and Asterids. Recent work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, blending molecular biology with evolutionary and structural studies to address fundamental questions in plant science.
Robert J. Schmitz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics at the University of Georgia and a Hans Fischer Fellow at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) Institute for Advanced Study. His research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms driving phenotypic variation in plants, including DNA methylation, chromatin dynamics, and epigenetic inheritance. He earned his PhD in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and conducted postdoctoral work at the Salk Institute. His research aims to identify regulatory elements critical for crop improvement and understand spontaneous epialleles' molecular basis and heritability. Notable contributions include the discovery of epigenetic clocks in plants and the role of heterochromatin in epiallele formation. He has secured funding from NSF, DOE, and the United Soybean Board for projects on cis-regulatory elements and biofuel crop engineering. Awarded the Pew Biomedical Scholarship (2015–2019), UGA Foundation Professorship (2020), and ISI Highly Cited Researcher (2020), Schmitz serves as Senior Editor for The Plant Cell and Associate Editor for Current Protocols in Plant Biology . His work bridges epigenomics and evolutionary biology, advancing tools like single-cell ATAC-seq for regulatory landscape analysis. Education: PhD in Genetics (2007, UW-Madison), Postdoc at Salk Institute (2008–2012) Grants: NSF-funded projects on regulatory elements in legumes, NSF/DOE grants for plant epigenetics, and collaborative research on maize development. Labs/Teams: Schmitz Lab at UGA focuses on epigenetic variation and crop improvement, collaborating with TUM on epigenetic clocks and mutation dynamics.
Mark Brundrett is an Adjunct Associate Professor at The University of Western Australia's School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Agriculture. His research focuses on symbiotic plant-fungal associations (mycorrhizas), conservation biology of threatened flora (especially orchids), and restoration ecology. He holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Waterloo (1988) and MSc degrees in Botany from the University of Guelph (1982, 1994). Expertise: Mycology, plant diversity, fire ecology, and orchid pollination strategies. His work contributes to UN SDGs related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystems. Current research includes orchid pollination dynamics, fire ecology impacts, and mycorrhizal database development (e.g., FungalRoot v2.0). He leads projects like the WA Native Orchid Study & Conservation Group and has secured grants for orchid mycorrhizal research and endangered species rescue initiatives. Recent publications address introduced honeybee effects on orchid pollination, post-fire orchid recovery, and ultraviolet floral signals. He collaborates globally on topics like mycorrhizal trait consistency and fossil fungal evolution. Brundrett serves as a Research Associate at the Western Australian Herbarium since 2015 and actively mentors HDR students in pollination ecology and restoration strategies.
Eric Schranz is a Full Professor in Biosystematics at Wageningen University & Research, leading research in plant genomics and evolution. His work focuses on phylogenomics, genome evolution in Brassicaceae, and developmental genetics, with significant contributions to understanding polyploidy and synteny in plants. His research integrates: Comparative genomics of angiosperms Evolution of plant immune systems Crop trait genetics (rice, Brassica, indigenous species) Transcriptomic analysis of development Recent publications (2025) demonstrate strong emphasis on: Evolutionary mechanisms in crop species Genomic approaches to plant metabolism Developmental genetics across species Currently supervises PhD projects on: Apomixis induction in dandelion Saproxylic biodiversity restoration Salicornia biomass optimization Brassica crop resistance Rice incompatibility genetics
Klaas Bouwmeester is an EPS Assistant Professor in Biosystematics at Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on plant-pathogen interactions, particularly in understanding mechanisms of plant immunity against oomycetes like Phytophthora and insects. He investigates defense signaling pathways, genetic resistance, and genomic diversity in crops such as Brassica species. Education: Not explicitly stated in provided texts, but his titles include dr.ir.ing., indicating academic qualifications in engineering and life sciences. His work integrates genomics, transcriptomics, and molecular biology to uncover how plants respond to pathogens and pests. Key projects include studying hypersensitive responses to butterfly eggs, co-evolution of immune genes, and decoding specialized metabolic pathways in plants. Bouwmeester has supervised multiple PhD candidates in plant defense mechanisms and collaborates on projects addressing crop resistance breeding. He has published over 98 research outputs, including studies on Phytophthora effector proteins, Brassica resistance loci, and omics-based approaches to plant metabolism. His research also involves creating novel pathosystems (e.g., Physcomitrella patens and Phytophthora ) to study cellular defense responses. Current projects include exploiting wild Brassica relatives for crop resistance and predicting meiotic recombination using machine learning. Bouwmeester’s work bridges fundamental research and applied plant breeding to enhance agricultural resilience.
Kathleen Pigg is a Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU), with affiliations to the Center for Biology and Society. She specializes in paleobotany, studying fossil plants to understand evolutionary relationships and ancient ecosystems. Her research focuses on Cenozoic flora, particularly in western North America, analyzing fossilized fruits, seeds, flowers, and leaves to trace plant adaptation through geological times. Educations: Ph.D. Botany, The Ohio State University (1988) M.S. Botany, The Ohio University (1982) B.S. Botany, The Ohio University (1980) Shawnee State Community College (1975-1977) Her work investigates processes like hybridization in Eocene plants and climate change impacts on flora. She has led field studies in northeastern Washington, examining fossil plants from high-elevation Eocene environments. Pigg’s research group explores how past climate changes influenced plant evolution, offering insights into modern ecological challenges. Notable contributions include studies of the Republic flora (Washington), McAbee flora (British Columbia), and Paleocene floras in North Dakota. She has published extensively on fossil angiosperms, gymnosperms, and ferns, with over 100 peer-reviewed articles. Pigg also serves as Editor of the International Journal of Plant Sciences and has curated significant fossil plant collections at ASU. Grants & Collaborations: Secured NSF funding for digitization projects (e.g., Pteridological Collections Consortium) and studies on Paleocene plant fossils. Her work bridges academia and public outreach through the Stonerose Interpretive Center in Republic, Washington. Labs & Teams: Leads the ASU Fossil Plant Collections, part of the Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center (BioKIC), housing over three million records of pteridophytes. Collaborates internationally on projects like the Glossopteris reproductive organs and Cenozoic plant migration patterns.
Hong Ma is a Professor of Biology and Huck Chair in Plant Reproductive Development and Evolution at Pennsylvania State University's Department of Biology. He is affiliated with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. His research focuses on molecular genetics of plant reproductive development and evolutionary biology, utilizing genomic, transcriptomic, and bioinformatic approaches. He has contributed to understanding meiotic processes, anther development, and the evolution of plant reproductive genes. His work also explores angiosperm phylogenetics and the impact of genome duplications on species diversification. Education: Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1988) B.A., Temple University (1983) Postdoctoral Training, California Institute of Technology (1988–1990) Research interests include molecular mechanisms underlying plant reproduction, evolutionary relationships of angiosperms, and the role of abiotic stresses (e.g., heat, drought) on reproductive success. His lab employs cutting-edge techniques like nuclear phylogenomics to resolve plant evolutionary histories and genomic conflicts. Key awards include AAAS Fellowship (2011), Distinguished Professor (2008), and a Guggenheim Fellowship (2004–2005). His recent publications highlight advancements in plant genome evolution, phylogenetic methodologies, and stress tolerance mechanisms. Grants and advising: While specific grant details are not listed, his research is funded through major initiatives like the Huck Institutes. Advising focuses on graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in plant biology and evolutionary genomics. Labs/teams: The Hong Ma Lab collaborates widely, focusing on plant reproductive biology and phylogenomic analyses.
Susana Aurora Magallón Puebla is a Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Botany , Institute of Biology , National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) , where she has worked full-time since 2001. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biology and Plant Biology, respectively, from UNAM, and a PhD in Paleobiology from the University of Chicago under the advisement of Peter R. Crane. Education : Bachelor of Science in Biology, Faculty of Sciences, UNAM (1991) Master of Science in Plant Biology, Faculty of Sciences, UNAM (1994) PhD in Paleobiology, University of Chicago (1999) Her research focuses on plant evolution within a phylogenetic framework , investigating the evolution of floral form, phylogenetic relationships and age of major seed plant clades, and diversification rates of angiosperms. Her work integrates morphological and molecular data from living and fossil plants, with expertise in early-diverging eudicot lineages such as Proteales, Sabiaceae, and Hamamelidaceae. She previously collaborated as a postdoctoral researcher under Principal Investigator Michael J. Sanderson at the University of California, Davis. Her methodological approaches emphasize phylogeny hypotheses derived from diverse datasets and optimization criteria, alongside analyses of floristic diversity from a phylogenetic perspective. She has explored evolutionary patterns in vascular plant clades and their fossil representatives. Personal : Married to Alejandro Sosa, with a daughter named Mayte.
Dr. Elizabeth Joyce is a Research Fellow at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, affiliated with the Faculty of Biology and the Department of Systematics, Biodiversity & Evolution of Plants. She works in the research group led by Prof. Kadereit, focusing on plant evolution and biogeography. Her work employs multi-scale approaches combining phylogenomic, phylogeographic, and floristic data to investigate Southeast Asian, New Guinean, and Australian flora dynamics, particularly the role of the Sunda-Sahul Floristic Exchange in shaping tropical diversity. She specializes in the angiosperm order Sapindales and dispersal syndromes impacting regional biogeography. Her research collaborations span institutions globally, including the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew/Sydney), James Cook University, and the University of São Paulo. She has contributed to over 20 peer-reviewed publications, emphasizing phylogenetic frameworks, taxonomic revisions, and computational methods for resolving evolutionary conflicts in plant genomes. While not explicitly noted here, her work reflects strong engagement with both theoretical and applied aspects of plant systematics. Key areas of expertise include genomic data analysis using tools like HybPhaser for hybrid detection, molecular phylogeography of disjunct plant species, and integrative approaches to species delimitation. Her recent studies highlight innovative methods for improving locus recovery in target capture datasets, advancing comparative phylogenomics across angiosperms.
William (Ned) Friedman is the Arnold Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Director of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University. His research integrates developmental, phylogenetic, and evolutionary biology to understand the evolutionary origins of flowering plants, focusing on reproductive innovations like double fertilization and endosperm development. He also explores the history of evolutionary thought, particularly pre-Darwinian ideas. Friedman leads the Friedman Lab, collaborating with researchers like My Ngoc Trinh and Daniel Faccini. His work spans field studies, genomic analyses, and historical scholarship, leveraging Harvard's extensive botanical collections. Recent studies investigate vascular architecture in ferns, seed development in water lilies (Nymphaea thermarum), and parent-of-origin effects in seed evolution. Friedman teaches courses like OEB 168R (Sociobotany) and OEB 386 (Plant Biology). His lab is affiliated with the Harvard University Herbaria and Weld Hill Research Building, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to plant systematics and evolution.
Dr. Brian Atkinson is an Assistant Professor and Assistant Curator of Paleobotany at the University of Kansas, specializing in the macroevolutionary patterns and relationships of seed plants. His research focuses on Mesozoic and Cenozoic conifers and flowering plants, particularly using fossil evidence to reconstruct evolutionary histories. He is affiliated with the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB), where he contributes to graduate education and oversees the Atkinson Lab. Key research areas include the Cretaceous diversification of asterids, the evolution of cornalean fruits, and the paleobiogeography of conifers. His work frequently integrates anatomically preserved fossils with modern phylogenetic methods to address questions about plant diversification and extinction events. Recent projects explore the origins of dogwoods (Cornus) and the early radiation of the Meliaceae family. Publications span over a decade, with notable contributions to American Journal of Botany , Annals of Botany , and International Journal of Plant Sciences . His research has expanded understanding of Gondwanan plant dispersal, Cretaceous-Paleogene floral transitions, and the macroevolutionary dynamics shaping modern plant diversity. Dr. Atkinson collaborates with institutions globally, including the Royal Botanical Gardens and Hokkaido University, and maintains an active fossil collection at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute. His lab focuses on anatomical, morphological, and molecular approaches to paleobotanical research, with ongoing projects in Antarctica, North America, and Japan.
Dr. Friederike Gallenmüller is a Senior Academic Councillor and Curator of the Botanical Garden at the Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg, part of the Faculty of Biology at Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg. Her expertise spans Eco-Biomechanics, Climbing Plants, Hydroscopic Movements in Plants, and Botanical Garden management. She leads interdisciplinary research initiatives, including projects on plant structural adaptations and biomimetic innovations. Her research focuses on plant biomechanics, particularly the functional morphology of climbing mechanisms and plant movement strategies. Notable projects include studies on aerial root bridges in Ficus elastica and the biomechanics of pollination in orchids. She also explores applied aspects of botany, such as viticulture and medicinal leech attachment systems. Dr. Gallenmüller is involved in educational outreach through programs like the IDEASfactory@FIT and the Master Lab program. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications, emphasizing biomimetic solutions derived from plant biology.
Dr. Kelly Matsunaga is the Thomas N. Taylor Assistant Professor and Assistant Curator in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas, part of the Biodiversity Institute. Her research focuses on plant evolution, phylogeny, and diversity through integrative approaches combining paleobotany, histology, X-ray tomography, and phylogenetics. She investigates how plant form and diversity have evolved over time, particularly in groups like conifers, palms, and lycophytes, using both living and fossil specimens. Education: Botany, Humboldt State University, 2012 Biology, Humboldt State University, 2014 Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 2019 Research Interests: Her work bridges paleobotany and modern plant biology, emphasizing the complementary roles of fossils and living organisms in understanding macroevolutionary patterns. Key topics include conifer evolution, palm systematics, and developmental mechanisms like polar auxin transport in land plants. Labs/Teams: Her lab is part of the Biodiversity Institute’s Division of Paleobotany, established in 1888 with extensive fossil collections. She collaborates internationally on projects like Cretaceous-Paleogene flora studies and conifer reproductive morphology.
Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe is a Professor of Geology and Geophysics at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) and currently serves as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering and Computing. She holds a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Cambridge (1991) and has been on Missouri S&T's faculty since 1991. Her research expertise lies in palynology and sedimentology, focusing on biostratigraphy, paleoenvironmental, and paleoclimatic reconstructions. She has conducted extensive studies in Africa, South America, the U.S., Australia, and the Atlantic Ocean, contributing over 90 scholarly works. Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe has held leadership roles, including Interim Chair of the Department of Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering (2015–2017) and Program Head of the Geology & Geophysics Program (2006–2014). She is a Fellow of AAAS, the Geological Society of America, and the Paleontological Society, and served as Past President of the Palynological Society (AASP). Her awards include the Missouri S&T Woman of the Year (2004) and induction into the Women’s Hall of Fame (2022). Her research integrates palynofacies with organic geochemistry, emphasizing microfossil-based studies of ancient environments and climate. Recent work includes analyses of the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary impact effects, Miocene tectonic influences on sedimentation, and Holocene climate dynamics in Central America. She has also pioneered machine learning applications for fossil pollen taxonomy. Education: B.Sc. Geology, Obafemi Awolowo University (1983) M.Sc. Applied Geology, Obafemi Awolowo University (1986) Ph.D. Geology, University of Cambridge (1991) Awards/Honors: Elected AAAS Fellow (2017) GSA Fellow (2011) Paleontological Society Fellow (2020) Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee (2022) Grants/Leadership: Member, National Science Foundation’s Geosciences Advisory Committee (2000–2022) Director, Association for Women Geoscientists Foundation (2005–2008) Editorial Board Member, Palynology (1995–2009) Her work bridges academic research with mentorship, particularly advocating for women in STEM through summer camps and outreach programs. She has also contributed to international initiatives like UNESCO’s International Geoscience Programme.
Blaine Marchant, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on plant reproductive biology, development, ecology, and evolution using advanced techniques such as single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), comparative genetics/genomics, and digitized herbarium specimens. The Marchant Lab investigates both model and non-model plant systems to address fundamental biological questions. Research Interests: Plant reproductive development, genome evolution, ecological adaptation, and innovative genomics methodologies. Key Projects: Development of FX-Cell for plant single-cell genomics, gene editing in ferns, phasiRNA biogenesis, and chloroplast signaling evolution. Recent publications highlight his work on thermosensitive male sterility in wheat, anther somatic niche formation, fern genome dynamics, and evolutionary adaptations in land plants. The lab integrates computational and experimental approaches to study molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive traits and ecological resilience.
