Research Interests

As a plant evolutionary ecophysiology lab, our research naturally centers on the intersection of plant ecology, evolution, physiology, and genetics. We are especially interested in the physiological and genetic mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to diverse environmental pressures, including abiotic factors like climate and soil fertility, and biotic factors like herbivory and disease. All plants face physiological trade-offs between growth, defense, and reproduction, and we seek to understand the coordinated evolution of the traits that govern these three core functions. Our research addresses a variety of questions across multiple scales, from macroevolution to population differentiation to within-individual variation, as well as in multiple systems, from crops to wild herbs and woody plants.