Doug Soltis

Doug Soltis is a Distinguished Professor at the University of Florida, holding dual affiliations with the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Department of Biology. His research focuses on plant evolution, leveraging modern DNA technologies and computational methods to address fundamental questions in evolutionary biology. Key areas include plant phylogeny, genome doubling (polyploidy), floral evolution, and angiosperm diversification.

He leads the Soltis Lab, which actively collaborates on large-scale projects such as the 1KP initiative (1,000 Plant Transcriptomes Project) and the Amborella Genome Sequencing Project. Recent work includes constructing phylogenetic frameworks for angiosperms and investigating the evolutionary significance of polyploidy in plant diversification. His lab also explores phylogeographic patterns in North American and Chinese flora, with a focus on responses to climate change and invasive species dynamics.

Research highlights include sequencing the Amborella genome, identifying its basal position among flowering plants, and proposing the 'fading borders' model for floral organ identity in basal angiosperms. The lab has pioneered studies on polyploidy's role in genetic versatility and has used Tragopogon as a model for studying natural polyploidization processes. Recent projects also integrate microbial diversity with plant phylogenetics to understand co-evolutionary patterns.

Notable collaborations include building a plant tree of life for China and Florida, and leading NSF-funded initiatives like the Dimensions of Biodiversity grant. The lab supports graduate students and postdocs through numerous grants and provides resources for high-performance computing and data management. Doug Soltis is a key figure in advancing plant systematics and evolutionary genetics through interdisciplinary approaches.