
Staff
Students
Visiting researchers
Research associates
Nick Stoynoff
Research Associate, Herbarium
Gerould Wilhelm
Research Associate, Herbarium
Wayne Lampa
Research Associate, Herbarium
Author of The Phoenix Land - The Natural History of DuPage County. Working on the moss flora of the county, more than 980 collections to date.
Kathleen Garness
Research Associate, Herbarium
Kathleen Marie Garness is a scientific illustrator with a focus on regional floristics, especially the Orchidaceae. Her work has been exhibited at Kew Gardens London and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, among other venues. She loves sharing her passion for plants with all ages. Recent collaborators include the Field Museum, Indiana Academy of Science, and Conservation Research Institute.
Scott Kobal
Research Associate, Herbarium
Alan Whittemore
Research Associate, Herbarium
Alumni
Staff
- Leah Samuels, (Seasonal 2022; affiliate 2023). Dimensions of Biodiversity, Gall Wasp
- Charlene Kueterman (Research Technician Fellow, 2022-2023). Herbarium.
- Keion Mackay (Research Intern, 2022). Bur oak experimental planting.
- Rachel Gowett (Research Intern, 2021). Bur oak experimental planting.
- Mary-Claire Glasenhardt (Prairie Restoration Research Assistant, 2015-2020). Prairie experiment.
- Victoria Larsen (Research Intern, 2019, 2020). Prairie experiment.
- Samantha Gray (Research Assistant, 2019). Oak phylogenomics.
- Ben Avis (Research Intern, 2019). Prairie experiment.
- Kathleen Thomas (Research Intern, 2019). Prairie experiment.
- Mira Garner (Research assistant, 2016–2018). Carex systematics, Prairie phylogenetic restoration, Oak landscape genomics.
- Andrea Miller (Research / Herbarium assistant, 2015–2017). Herbarium and Aquatic Invasive Plants TCN outreach.
- Bethany Brown (Research / Herbarium assistant, 2010–2015). Oak and sedge biodiversity.
- Dr. Alka Srivastava (Research assistant, 2010): Gene flow in oaks.
- Jaime Weber (Research assistant, 2005–2010): Systematics and molecular ecology of oaks, elms, sedges.
- Jason Sturner (Herbarium assistant, 2005–2010): Flora of the Great Lakes; taxonomy of oaks.
Graduate students
- Shuai Liao, East China Normal University, 2019-2021: Ficus phylogenomics
- Carmen Benitez-Benitez, Pablo de Olavide University, visiting PhD student 2018: Carex phylogenomics
- Saddan Morales, UNAM-Morelia, visiting PhD student 2018: Quercus phylogenomics
- Kasey Pham, Michigan State University, research fellow 2017: Quercus HybSeq marker development
- Ana Otero, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, visiting PhD student, 2016: Omphalodes phylogenomics (RADseq)
- Monica Miguez, Pablo de Olavide University, visiting PhD student (2016): Carex phylogenetics
- Adrienne Ernst, Northwestern University / Chicago Botanic Garden (2016–2021): Effects of phylogenetic diversity on resistance to invasion, prairie restoration
- Dr. Uzma Qureshi, NUST-Islamabad, visiting PhD student, 2015-16, 2017-18: Carex phylogenetics, plastome sequencing
- Dr. Enrique Maguilla, Pablo de Olavide University, visiting PhD student, 2014, 2015, 2016-17: Carex phylogenomics (RADseq, HybSeq)
- Dr. Laia Barres, Institut Botanic de Barcelona, Visiting PhD student 2010: AFLPs in Euphorbia.
- Dr. Ian S. Pearse, UC–Davis, Visiting PhD student 2009, 2010, 2011: oak-insect interactions.
Postdoctoral researchers:
- Dr. Nisa Karimi, postdoc 2019-2020: Prairie phylogenetic ecology.
- Dr. Elliott Gardner, NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, 2018-2019: comparative evolution of pollination mode
- Dr. Tamara Villaverde, Pablo de Olavide University, visiting PhD student (2015) and postdoctoral research (2015-16): Carex phylogenomics (RADseq, HybSeq)
- Dr. Elisabeth Fitzek, 2012–2015: Quercus RAD-seq data analysis
- Dr. Marcial Escudero, Pablo de Olavide University, visiting PhD student (2008) and postdoctoral researcher (2010-2014): Carex chromosome evolution and phylogenetics.
- Dr. Kyong-Sook Chung, postdoc 2009–2011: systematics of Carex subgenus Vignea.
- Dr. Karin Kettenring, Short-term postdoc, 2006: Development of Carex microsatellites.
Other Visiting scientists
- Dr. Roberta Mason-Gamer, University of Illinois-Chicago: sabbatical research 2013
- Dr. Min Deng, Yunnan University, CTS Fellow 2012: Eurasian oaks.
- Dr. Ana Molina, University of León, visiting researcher 2010: Carex sequencing
- Dr. Alison Mahoney, Mankato State University, sabbatical researcher 2007: Midwest sedges.
High school researchers:
- Jozelle Arenz, 2019
- Zachary McDermott, 2019
- Alice Bieda, 2018
- Marion Deal, 2018
- Emily Grigg, 2017
- Seamus Flannery, 2017
- Hayleigh Wagreich, 2016, 2017
- Elizabeth Eboli, 2015
- Rosemary Kallarackal, 2015
- Kasey Pham, 2014
- Alexa Cotton, 2012, 2013, 2014
Undergraduate researchers:
- Alice Bieda (NSF-REU), 2019
- Hayley Wagreich (NSF-RAHSS), 2019
- Elizabeth Gibbons (2018, 2019)
- Alyssa Barrantes (NSF-REU, 2018)
- Ashley Tuffin (2017-2018)
- Amy Byrne (2017)
- Sara Desmond (2017, 2018)
- Anayansi Solis (2016)
- Kasey Pham (2014, 2015, 2016): Biodiversity informatics and phylogenomics, oaks and sedges
- Nicholas Steichmann (2015): Oak population genetics
- Mira Garner (2015, 2016): Prairie community ecology and restoration
- Alexa Cotton (2013, 2014, 2015): Quercus projects and prairie
- Geraldine Holmes (Undergraduate research intern, 2013): Quercus mapping
- Stefan Mielke (Undergraduate research intern, 2013): Quercus AFLP
- Casey Perkins (Undergraduate research intern, 2012–2013): Carex morphology, Quercus mapping
- Kate Lueders (Undergraduate research intern, NSF, 2012–2013): Carex and Ulmus systematics
- Breane Budaitis (Undergraduate research intern, NSF, Ohio Wesleyan, 2012, 2013; REU 2014): Oak systematics. Contributions: development of an oak genotyping-by-sequencing library (2012); leader on oak AFLP phylogenetics (2013)
- Susan Helford (Undergrad research intern, Lake Forest College, 2012): Oak morphometrics for 140 specimens. Manuscript in prep: Hipp, Hahn, Helford, Srivastava and Weber (for submission to Molecular Ecology).
- Melanie Koto (Undergrad research intern, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2011): Carex DNA sequencing.
- Sylwia Dakowicz (Undergrad research intern, Lake Forest College, 2011): AFLP oak phylogeny.
- Natalie Kirchner (NSF-REU researcher, 2010): Online field and photomicrographs for 32 species Carex, published online through EOL – Lifedesks (carex.lifedesks.org; vignea.lifedesks.org)
- Kara Moutvic (Undergrad research intern, NSF, Benedictine University, 2009): DNA sequencing and cytogenetics of Carex.
- Andrew Bass (NSF-REU researcher, 2009): Microsatellite analysis of western North American Carex. Manuscript in prep: Hipp, Bass, and Weber (for submission to Systematic Botany).
- James Doss (Undergraduate research volunteer, EIU, 2008–2009): Morphometrics of black oak.
K-12 teachers trained in our lab:
- Amy Schwartz (NSF-TCN, 2017): using specimens in the classroom
- James Rowe (NSF-TCN, 2017): using specimens in the classroom
- Patricia Rowe (NSF-TCN, 2017): using specimens in the classroom
- Lisa Hootman (NSF-TCN, 2017): using specimens in the classroom
- Patrick Murphy (AP biology, NSF-RET, 2015): Prairie collaboration
- Jeff Grant (AP biology, NSF-RET, 2013, 2015; NSF-TCN, 2017): Prairie collaboration; Carex morphology collaboration; Quercus AFLP phylogeny; Aquatic invasives biology
- Sara Young (Secondary environmental biology, NSF-RET, 2013): Carex morphology
- Sara Adams (Secondary biology, volunteer, 2013): Carex morphology
- Donna Wetta (8th grade teacher intern, 2011-2012; NSF-RET researcher, 2013): herbarium creation, prairie plant identification, Carex morphology.
- Mina Rodriguez (NSF-RET researcher, 2010-2011): systematics of Carex; biodiversity teacher survey
- Jill Henry (8th grade science teacher, NSF-RET researcher, 2010): tree biology; molecular systematics
- Scott Johnson (AP biology teacher, NSF-RET researcher, 2010): tree of life lab for high-school bio students
- Amanda Rogers (2nd-grade teacher, NSF-RET researcher, 2009): Integrating evolution into her curriculum.