معرفی
Charles Fenster is an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Biology and Microbiology and Director of the Oak Lake Field Station at South Dakota State University. He holds additional affiliations with the Department of Natural Resource Management and the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Fenster earned his education from the University of Chicago and Amherst College, following Stuyvesant High School in New York City.
His research focuses on evolutionary processes using plants as model organisms, with primary interests in genetics of adaptation, mutation contributions to evolutionary responses, and pollinator-mediated selection. Key themes include conservation genetics of small populations, pesticide resistance evolution, and sustainable agriculture through pollinator interactions. His work bridges theoretical genetics with applied conservation strategies.
Notable grants include a 2013-2017 NSF grant totaling $759,753 for mutation accumulation studies in Arabidopsis thaliana and a 2017 Sun Grant of $140,000 examining Brassica carinata pollination dynamics. Fenster has held leadership roles such as Treasurer of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (2016-2018) and Executive Vice President of the Society for the Study of Evolution (2008-2010).
His lab is located in the Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Laboratory (Room 249B), and his research frequently involves collaborations across disciplines. Fenster advocates for genetic rescue strategies in fragmented populations and emphasizes the ecological importance of botanical gardens as pollinator conservation 'arks.'
