Benjamin Blackman

Benjamin Blackman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, within the College of Natural Resources. His research focuses on plant adaptation and domestication, particularly in sunflowers and monkeyflowers. The Blackman Lab investigates how plants evolve developmental responses to environmental changes, linking genetic variation to ecological success. Key areas include the genetic basis of floral traits, circadian regulation of growth, and the evolutionary processes underlying domestication. Recent work involves ancient DNA studies to trace sunflower domestication history and collaborations on crop resilience under climate change.

Blackman has mentored numerous students, including Grace Johnson, Linnea Norton, and Peter Stokes, and collaborates with institutions worldwide. His lab’s research spans molecular genetics to field ecology, with studies published in *Science*, *Nature Plants*, and *Current Biology*. Funding includes NSF Plant Genome grants for circadian-clock studies in sunflowers and projects on fungal co-evolution. The lab maintains active outreach, engaging the public through Cal Day events and science communication initiatives.