Harvey Ballard

Harvey Ballard is a Professor in the Department of Environmental and Plant Biology at Ohio University's College of Arts and Sciences. He serves as the Internships Coordinator, Herbarium Director, and Curator of Vascular Plants at the Floyd Bartley Herbarium. His work bridges molecular biology, taxonomy, and conservation, with strong institutional ties to national botanical networks and research centers.

Research Interests: Dr. Ballard’s research focuses on plant systematics, phylogenetics, molecular ecology, and conservation genetics. His lab investigates evolutionary processes in plants, particularly in the genus Viola and the family Violaceae. Using molecular tools such as microsatellites and next-generation sequencing, his team studies hybridization, polyploidy, and breeding systems like chasmogamy and cleistogamy. His work has broad implications for understanding species formation and plant diversity.

Publications & Research Trends: His recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on taxonomic revisions, phylogenetic analyses, and floristic contributions. The research spans new species descriptions, generic reclassifications, and molecular phylogenies, primarily in Violaceae and related families. The integration of traditional morphology with modern genomics underscores a multidisciplinary approach to plant systematics.

Scientific Service & Recognition:

• Adjunct Faculty, Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
• Research Associate, Missouri Botanical Garden
• Research Associate, Carnegie Museum
• Member, BRAHMS Database System International Advisory Group
• Editorial Board, Acta Botanica Cracoviensia
• Program Director, U.S. Virtual Herbarium Database Network
• Member, Ohio Rare Plant Technical Advisory Committee
• Member, Ohio Flora Committee
• Violaceae Working Group, Species Plantarum Programme

Advising and Grants: Dr. Ballard coordinates undergraduate internships and advising in plant biology. He led a National Science Foundation grant to digitize herbarium collections across Appalachian Ohio, creating a regional databasing and imaging network. He also engages in contract research with the U.S. National Arboretum for microsatellite development in ornamental shrubs.

Laboratories and Teams: His lab collaborates with Dr. Sarah Wyatt on the genetic basis of mixed breeding systems in Viola. The team employs molecular techniques including ISSRs, microsatellites, and 454 shotgun sequencing. The Floyd Bartley Herbarium, under his curation, is a hub for botanical research and education, utilizing BRAHMS software for specimen management.