Selena Smith

Selena Smith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), affiliated with the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). Her research focuses on plant evolution, paleobotany, and the role of plants in ancient environments, particularly using modern and fossil specimens. She leads the PEPPR Lab, which employs advanced techniques like synchrotron imaging and 3D tomography to study monocot evolution and environmental interactions.

Educated at the University of Alberta, she holds a B.Sc. (2002) in Evolutionary Biology and a Ph.D. (2007) in Plant Systematics. Her work integrates anatomical, morphological, and geochemical methods to address questions about plant-environment relationships across geological timescales. Recent projects include studies of Cretaceous Antarctic mosses, Archaean microbialites, and CO2 sensitivity in fossilized stomata.

Her lab actively seeks graduate students to study Cretaceous plant anatomy and mentors undergraduates in field and lab research. Collaborative projects with institutions like the Deccan Intertrappean Beds research group highlight her global reach. Current research emphasizes linking paleobotanical data with environmental reconstructions, including studies of ancient climate patterns and plant functional traits.