Jessica Brzyski

Jessica Brzyski is an Associate Professor of Biology specializing in plant ecology, genetics, and conservation biology. Her research focuses on rare plant species, genetic diversity, and ecological adaptation, using organisms like Boechera perstellata, Spiraea virginiana, and Marchantia inflexa as primary study models. She holds a B.S. from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, an M.S. from Georgia Southern University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati.

Brzyski’s work integrates field studies with genetic analyses to understand how plants respond to environmental challenges such as climate change, habitat disturbance, and drought. Her lab explores topics including phenotypic plasticity, reproductive strategies in clonal species, and conservation genetics. Key contributions include meta-analyses on plant rarity mechanisms and studies on the impact of sexual vs. asexual reproduction on population dynamics.

Her research also extends to riparian ecosystems, invasive species interactions, and beaver-induced habitat changes. She maintains an active lab (brzyskilab.wordpress.com) where students and collaborators investigate biodiversity conservation and ecological resilience. While no specific awards are listed, her extensive publication record reflects sustained academic engagement in plant biology and ecology.