Carolyn Wessinger

Carolyn Wessinger is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina in the Department of Biological Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on the genetic mechanisms underlying trait variation and evolution in plants, particularly in the genus Penstemon, using population genomics, QTL mapping, and phylogenetic modeling. She explores topics such as convergent evolution, hybridization, and the maintenance of floral adaptations in the face of gene flow.

• B.S., Biology – Brown University
• Ph.D., Biology – Duke University (advised by Mark Rausher)
• Postdoctoral Research – University of Kansas (collaborating with Lena Hileman and John Kelly)

Her work investigates how complex adaptations arise and persist during plant radiations, with an emphasis on transitions between bee and hummingbird pollination syndromes. Recent studies examine the role of introgression in adaptive trait evolution, the genetic architecture of floral traits, and the ecological consequences of pollination shifts. Publications highlight macroevolutionary patterns, genomic divergence, and pigment dynamics in hybrid zones.

The lab has trained numerous students and postdocs, including NSF-funded researchers, and emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism in scientific training. Collaborations extend to institutions like the University of Kansas and University of Oregon. Future research directions include expanding comparative studies across multiple Penstemon clades and integrating ecological modeling with genomic data.