Jessica Budke

Jessica Budke is an Associate Professor & Herbarium Director in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut (2011). Her research focuses on evolutionary developmental biology, plant structure-function relationships, and bryophyte systematics, with emphasis on maternal-offspring interactions and natural history collections.

• Education: Ph.D. in Biology, University of Connecticut (2011)

Her research interests span bryology, plant biodiversity, and the functional roles of maternal structures like calyptrae in moss sporophyte development. She employs molecular systematics, electron microscopy, and herbarium data to study phylogenetic relationships and habitat adaptation in bryophytes.

Publications highlight topics such as calyptra function, genome evolution in mosses, and environmental determinants of bryophyte communities. Collaborations include projects on herbarium digitization and public engagement with natural history collections.

• Grants: Includes NSF-funded projects on bryophyte systematics and herbarium specimen digitization.

Budke leads the University of Tennessee Herbarium, emphasizing specimen curation and public access. Her work bridges traditional taxonomy with modern genomic approaches, advancing understanding of plant diversity and ecological adaptation.