Ya Min

Ya Min serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where her research program investigates floral developmental mechanisms and evolutionary processes using Aquilegia (columbine) as a primary model system. Her work bridges molecular genetics, evolutionary biology, and advanced imaging to decode the genetic basis of floral diversity.

Core research emphases include:

• Genetic regulation of floral meristem termination timing
• Evolutionary loss and identity of staminodes in specialized flowers
• Molecular pathways governing anthocyanin pigmentation patterns
• Quantitative live imaging of meristem dynamics
• Evo-Devo mechanisms underlying floral organ diversification

Analysis of her 2022-2024 publications reveals consistent integration of reverse genetics, confocal microscopy, and comparative genomics within the Aquilegia system. Key trends demonstrate how transcription factor networks (e.g., R2R3-MYB) control pigmentation gradients while meristem termination timing influences floral architecture evolution. Her interdisciplinary approach connects molecular mechanisms to macroevolutionary patterns in plant form.