Rachel A. Levin

Rachel A. Levin is a Senior Lecturer in Biology and Environmental Studies at Amherst College. Her research focuses on plant diversification, phylogenetics, hybridization impacts on speciation, and floral trait evolution mediated by plant-animal interactions. Levin holds a BA from Carleton College (1994), MS (1997), and PhD (2001) from the University of Arizona.

Her work integrates field, greenhouse, laboratory, and herbarium studies to explore angiosperm biodiversity, speciation, and biogeography. Key research areas include evolutionary processes in Solanaceae (e.g., Lycium, Lycieae tribes) and Onagraceae, with emphasis on phylogenetic methods and molecular markers.

Levin’s publications span over two decades, addressing topics like generic circumscription in Lycieae, self-incompatibility mechanisms, and floral trait evolution. Her studies highlight interdisciplinary approaches to understanding plant systematics and ecological adaptation.

Levin’s affiliation with Amherst College emphasizes undergraduate teaching, while her academic work extends to collaborative projects involving institutions like the University of Massachusetts Amherst.