My current research focuses on the ecology, history, and conservation values of populations under environmental and anthropogenic stress.
By utilizing GIS modeling, field surveys, and molecular methods, I have focused on the plant ecology and water quality of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment and Piedmont of the southeastern United States.
For my PhD dissertation, I focused on the ecology of disjunct populations of Saxifragaceae throughout the Appalachians and the impact of life history shifts on geneflow and resultant isolation between low and high elevaiton sites - a historic model for the effects of current climate trends.
As an Associate Professor of Biology, I mentor undergraduate students in ecosystem dynamics. Some of their current research focuses on: Mycoremediation efficiency of various fungi within glyphosate contmainated soils; Composition and growth rate analysis of inner urban forests; Post glacial occurrences of broadly distributed invertebrate species; and, Species composition between high and low elevation ice ponds of blue ridge monadnocks.
I have taught Biology, Botany, Env. Science, and Plant Physiology courses, and served as interim curator for the Clemson University Herbarium.
In my spare time, I work in the field with private and public groups to evaluate habitats and species of ecological importance, for both conservation and management prior to preservation and development.
By utilizing GIS modeling, field surveys, and molecular methods, I have focused on the plant ecology and water quality of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment and Piedmont of the southeastern United States.
For my PhD dissertation, I focused on the ecology of disjunct populations of Saxifragaceae throughout the Appalachians and the impact of life history shifts on geneflow and resultant isolation between low and high elevaiton sites - a historic model for the effects of current climate trends.
As an Associate Professor of Biology, I mentor undergraduate students in ecosystem dynamics. Some of their current research focuses on: Mycoremediation efficiency of various fungi within glyphosate contmainated soils; Composition and growth rate analysis of inner urban forests; Post glacial occurrences of broadly distributed invertebrate species; and, Species composition between high and low elevation ice ponds of blue ridge monadnocks.
I have taught Biology, Botany, Env. Science, and Plant Physiology courses, and served as interim curator for the Clemson University Herbarium.
In my spare time, I work in the field with private and public groups to evaluate habitats and species of ecological importance, for both conservation and management prior to preservation and development.
Phylogentics : Median stable ancestral state reconstruction of Saxifragaceae Genome Sizes under a Brownian motion model
Field Collections : Cloud cover during field work on Mount Pisgah, NC
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Genomics : Denovo assembly of Radseq reads (cpDNA) to reference genome for gene homology and physiological trait inferences
Bioinformatics : LINUX command–line environment and BASH analyses via high–performance computing frameworks
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GIS Modeling : Pleistocene range of Micranthes petiolaris (heat map with range contours) and current distribution (pink)
Curation : Morphological trait analysis and collection mounting for new variety of Micranthes petiolaris
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