معرفی
Brandon T. Sinn is an Associate Professor and Director of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) Program at Otterbein University within the Department of Biology & Earth Science. His research leverages molecular genetics to answer questions central to understanding lineage diversification, evolutionary relationships, horizontal gene transfer, population genetics, and genome evolution in flowering plants.
Dr. Sinn's research spans several key areas:
- Molecular phylogenetics and systematics of flowering plants, particularly orchids
- Genome evolution in heterotrophic plants that have lost photosynthetic capabilities
- Horizontal gene transfer between plants and fungi
- Conservation genetics of rare and endangered plant species
- Development of molecular tools like ISSRseq for population genetics studies
- Analysis of invasive species through genomic approaches
His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on orchid evolution, mitochondrial genome analysis, and the genomic consequences of mycoheterotrophy. Dr. Sinn's work bridges traditional systematics with modern genomic approaches, contributing significantly to our understanding of plant biodiversity.
Among his notable achievements are the Richard and Minnie Windler Award in systematics and the Otterbein University New Professor of the Year Award. He is currently (2024-2027) a principal investigator on a nationally-funded project by the Latvian Council of Science to detect invasive grass species DNA in agricultural settings.
As an educator, Dr. Sinn teaches Introduction to Organisms and Ecology, Evolution, and Molecular Genetics while maintaining an active research laboratory that provides undergraduate students with opportunities to engage in botanical research from genomes to species.
