The Plant Systematics Laboratory and Herbarium of The Morton Arboretum
People
Staff
AndrewHipp
Senior Scientist, Herbarium Director
Andrew heads the herbarium and systematics laboratory, conducting research on the origins and implications of plant biodiversity.
MarleneHahn
Plant Systematics Research Program Manager
Marlene conducts and oversees research in our lab, working closely with interns, students, staff and visiting researchers.
LindseyWorcester
Herbarium Assistant
Lindsey manages day-to-day operations in the herbarium and conducts systematics research at the interface of living and herbarium collections.
MiraGarner
Research Coordinator, Dimensions of Biodiversity
LeahSamuels
Seasonal: Dimensions of Biodiversity
CharleneKueterman
Research Technician Fellow, Herbarium
Students
SennaRobeson
PhD student, U. of Chicago
Senna researches the evolution of geographic range size and population distribution in the genus Bejaria (tarflowers), and leaf morphology in Acer series Saccharodendron (hard maples).
RyanFuller
PhD student, U. of Chicago
Phylogenetics of Rhododendron, focusing on the lepidote Rhododendrons of the Hengduan Mtns., China
GabeRibicoff
Undergraduate researcher, U. of Chicago
KieranAlthaus
PhD Student, U. of Chicago
Visiting researchers
Research associates
NickStoynoff
Research Associate, Herbarium
GerouldWilhelm
Research Associate, Herbarium
WayneLampa
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.
KathleenGarness
Research Associate, Herbarium
ScottKobal
Research Associate, Herbarium
AlanWhittemore
Research Associate, Herbarium
Alumni
Staff
Keion Mackay (Research Intern, 2022). Bur oak experimental planting.
Rachel Gowett (Research Intern, 2021). Bur oak experimental planting.
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
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. 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