Research  

My Postdoctoral Work: 

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis, EAB), a beetle native to East Asia, has decimated populations of trees in the Fraxinus (ash) genus since its unintentional introduction into Southeastern Michigan, USA in the late 1990s. In addition to the increased mortality of ash trees themselves, EAB-induced death can have significant influence on the surrounding ecosystem. This is a particular concern for Fraxinus nigra (black ash) due to the unique wetland habitats in which they reside and the ecosystem services they provide. The potential large-scale death of black ash from EAB infestation threatens the foundational ecosystem function of these hydric systems, as black ash is one of very few deciduous trees present in these environments. In combination with these vital ecosystem functions, black ash has abundant cultural significance: many First Nations communities in the black ash range have an extensive history of harvesting black ash for basketmaking, a tradition that is currently threatened by EAB. Given the functional and cultural importance of black ash, it is imperative to evaluate phenotypic and genetic variability within and among populations to uncover drivers of EAB resistance that can be leveraged to conserve this keystone species. 

My Dissertation Work:

As temperature and rainfall modifications associated with climate change are inevitable and imminent, studying phenotypic and genetic responses associated with these environmental stressors is integral in identifying plant adaptations that promote drought tolerance. My dissertation research used Sorghum, an agriculturally and economically important grain crop, as a model to uncover the phenotypic and genetic controls of drought resistance. Specifically, this work involved subjecting two Sorghum bicolor accessions to varying levels of drought stress (i.e. number of days without water) to identify morphological and physiological strategies associated with the drought and recovery responses. Additional projects involved using Quantiative Trait Locus (QTL) mapping to identify putative genetic controls of domestication-derived drought resistance in a Sorghum recombinant inbred line (RIL) population.