Phil Gibson

J. Phil Gibson is a Professor of Plant Biology and Biology at The University of Oklahoma, primarily affiliated with the Department of Plant Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences. He leads the Gibson Lab, focused on evolutionary ecology, STEM education, and conservation biology. His educational efforts emphasize integrating tree-thinking and universal design for learning (UDL) into curricula to enhance understanding of biological evolution.

Education:

• B.S. Botany, Oklahoma State University, 1988
• M.S. Botany, The University of Georgia, 1990
• Ph.D. Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology, The University of Colorado, 1995

Research interests:
Dr. Gibson's work explores plant reproductive strategies, particularly heterocarpy in the genus Grindelia, and conservation genetics of Alnus maritima (seaside alder). He investigates how these plants adapt to environmental challenges through bet-hedging reproductive mechanisms and studies climate change impacts on their ecology. In education, he develops innovative resources like Phylo-Cards and case studies to teach evolution and botany, collaborating with organizations like HHMI BioInteractive and QUBES-BIOQUEST. His recent efforts include advancing UDL principles in educational materials and fostering citizen science initiatives.

Advising and Grants:
While no formal advisees are listed, Dr. Gibson’s research actively involves lab group members and collaborators in projects such as the Boulder Apple Tree Project and studies on the Cooper Bison Skull. His contributions include textbook co-authorships (e.g., Plant Ecology, Plant Diversity) and grants supporting interdisciplinary work in botany and education.

Labs and Teams:
He directs the Gibson Lab, which engages in field and lab research on plant ecology, evolutionary biology, and pedagogy. The lab collaborates across disciplines and institutions, including the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey and the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. His work also extends to public-facing platforms like the BioTA Podcast, where he explores topics ranging from CRISPR technology to citizen science.