Biography
I joined the University of Maryland faculty in 1996 following education at Cal Berkeley and UW Madison, and postdoctoral work at Indiana University. I study the early evolution of (mostly) photosynthetic eukaryotes, with current work extending back to the diversification of Archaea and the origin of the eukaryotic life cycle. I am probably best known for my work on the origin of land plants from green algae, and the biodiversity of dinoflagellates and their plastids. We use comparative genomics and transcriptomics in protists (microbial eukaryotes), and make extensive use of molecular systematic methods, which rely on computer modeling to reconstruct the history of mutations in DNA sequences from a related group of organisms. The lab is multidisciplinary, with ongoing work that includes field studies of algal biodiversity, advanced microscopy, genomics, and Bayesian modeling of evolutionary processes. I believe strongly in the mutually beneficial relationship of research and teaching, and feel that through these activities, universities add value and strength to our extended community. One component of this is working to update graduate education to retain the benefits of individualized instruction and internship while recognizing that there have been substantial changes in the nature of professional life since the general model of post-secondary education was developed. We must modernize our approach to better suit the modern job market.
Teaching
- BSCI464: Microbial Ecology
- BISI712: Responsible Conduct of Research
- BISI688U: Rigor and Reproducibility
- CBMG688A: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Biological Sciences
Graduate Program Affiliations
- Biological Sciences (BISI): Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (BEES)
- Biological Sciences (BISI): Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, and Genomics (CBBG)
- Biological Sciences (BISI): Molecular and Cell Biology (MOCB)
Research Interests
We study early events in the evolution of plants, particularly the endosymbiotic origin of plastids (chloroplasts), and the origin of land plants (i.e., embryophytes) from green algae, using molecular systematic and genomic methods -- an approach that is now sometimes called phylogenomics." We combine modern molecular methods, including gene and genome sequencing, computer analysis, and a variety of instrumental methods, with more classical methods and field work. By comparing the properties of living organisms we can gain insight into their common ancestors. In our work on the evolution of chloroplasts we have primarily concentrated on dinoflagellates, but have also worked on haptophytes and heterokonts. Our work on the origin of land plants primarily emphasizes the Charophyte Green Algae (also called Streptophytes).
Education
- Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Plant molecular systematics and plastid evolution
