Current. Research
Chamaecrista nicitans
My primary research interest is in understanding the genetic basis of how plants tolerate stressful soil environments, and how that tolerance varies between populations. I work with both agricultural crops and rare plants that are restricted to stressful soil types. also utilize genetic model organisms, such as Arabidopsis and Medicago, to develop tools to be used to improve crops and protect rare species.
Current work examines that tolerance of low phosphorus pine rockland soils by native South Florida legumes, conservation genetics of the federally endangered Keys Tree Cactus, population genetics of domestication in chickpea, and salt tolerance of wild alfalfa. We utilize a range of experimental tools, from field experiments to next-generation sequencing.