Jay Bolin

Jay Bolin is a Professor of Biology and Dean of Natural Sciences at Catawba College. He holds a B.S. from Virginia Tech, and M.S. and Ph.D. from Old Dominion University, followed by post-doctoral research at the Smithsonian Institution's Department of Botany.

• Research Focus: Plant systematics, molecular phylogenetics, plant ecology, and parasitic plants
• Key Contributions: Studies on Hydnora taxonomy, Isoëtes polyploid complexes, and symbiotic relationships in parasitic plants

His work emphasizes evolutionary mechanisms in parasitic plants, particularly focusing on genomic adaptations and taxonomic revisions. Recent publications (2016–2023) explore plastome evolution in holoparasites, hybridization in quillworts, and isotopic evidence of plant nutrition strategies.

Advancing understanding of plant biodiversity through integrative approaches combining fieldwork with molecular tools, Bolin’s research bridges taxonomy, ecology, and genomics.