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TEAM
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​Krissa Skogen, Ph.D. 
    CV
​    
Ph.D.      University of Connecticut, 2008
    B.A.        Gustavus Adolphus College, 2000


Associate Professor - Clemson University

      132 Long Hall  Clemson University    Clemson, SC 29634              
      kskogen[at]clemson.edu   

Adjunct Professor - Northwestern University

CURRENT LAB MEMBERS
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Dylan Cohen, Ph.D.        Postdoctoral Researcher
I am an evolutionary biologist with interests in conservation genetics, systematics, historical biogeography, plant-pollinator interactions, and plant adaptations to arid and alpine environments. I received my PhD in May of 2021 from Claremont Graduate University/California Botanic Garden. My dissertation focused on the evolution and ecology of several groups from Loasaceae. The first chapter dealt with conservation implications for Mentzelia polita, a rare and threatened species with a limited distribution in Mojave Desert. In my second and third chapters, I studied several genera distributed across the Southern Cone of South America. I used phylogenomic analyses to resolve relationships in the Southern Andean Loasa clade, reconstructed historical biogeography, and inferred diversification rates across the central and southern Andes. My last chapter investigated species relationships for Pinnasa and the impacts of recent glaciation to population structure across Pinnasa pinnatifida. At Chicago Botanic Garden I work on the conservation genetics of a rare and threatened plant, Amsonia tharpii. This species has five populations and is under threat due to expansion of oil and gas well development in southeastern New Mexico. Results from this study will assist Fish and Wildlife in determining if A. tharpii should be listed under the Endangered Species Act. 

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Haley Carter, Ph.D. Expected 2024
​​Plant Biology and Conservation Program - NU/CBG
​Co-Advised with Norm Wickett

​After graduating with a BS in Biology from Brown University in 2017 and working as a research assistant for the Conservation and Land Management Program and the Landscapes of Linalool project in the Skogen Lab, I started graduate school as a Masters student with Dr Skogen in 2019. I have since transitioned to the PhD program and am primarily advised by Dr Wickett but continue to work closely with the Skogen Lab as my graduate research builds off their previous work. I am broadly interested in the evolution of secondary metabolites and ecologically important chemical compounds in plants and am using my dissertation to investigate the genetics of linalool production in Oenothera harringtonii. This species of evening primrose is polymorphic for linalool production, which is a floral volatile potentially involved in both pollinator and herbivore interactions. My work uses parentage analysis in natural populations, greenhouse studies, and genome-wide association studies to understand the gene(s) and alleles underlying this polymorphism and their movement through populations.

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Mikhail Plaza, Ph.D. expected 2026
​​Plant Biology and Conservation Program - NU/CBG
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I graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2014 with a BS in Biology. Since undergrad, I have spent a number of years as a botany technician at the US Geological Survey working in the Mojave Desert. As a tech, I conducted field research focusing on common garden studies and post-fire landscape restoration. I then continued on with Mojave Desert research at California State University, Northridge where I received my Masters in Biology in 2021. At CSUN, I investigated how Joshua trees adapted to both climate and their obligate pollinators using population genetics and linkage mapping. As a PhD student, I am interested in continuing on using fieldwork and genetic approaches to answer questions regarding how floral variation and plant-animal interactions can drive local adaptation and ecological speciation.

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Susan Deans, M.S. expected 2021 
​Plant Biology and Conservation Program - NU/CBG

I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014 with BAs in Environmental Studies and Biology. Since graduating, I have worked in plant-related field jobs in Alaska, Florida, and Hawaii. While in Hawaii at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, I studied the pollination biology and breeding system of the Kauai-endemic, endangered tree Hibiscus waimeae subsp. hannerae. As a PhD student, I am interested in studying the effects of pollinators and floral antagonists on the evolution of floral traits and genetic diversity of the endemic Hawaiian Hibiscus clade which includes H. waimeae subsp. hannerae (and seven other taxa). Specifically I am interested in determining the nature and direction of a switch in primary pollinator group between hawkmoths and nectarivorous birds within this clade, and how difference in pollinators affects genetic diversity. Besides pollinators, I want to study the selective pressures exerted by floral antagonists on these Hibiscus, as native and introduced florivores and frugivores are contributing to the decline of several of these taxa. I am also interested in examining how well ex situ conservation collections capture the remaining wild genetic diversity of endangered members of this group. 

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​Alissa Doucet, M.S. Expected 2023
Plant Biology and Conservation Program – NU/CBG
After years spent dreaming of studying plants and animals, I changed careers from counseling to research in 2018. After working in a hospital research institute for a year, I returned to school to study ecology and evolutionary biology. During this time, I volunteered in an urban ecology lab and sought out coursework and research opportunities in ecology. After an eye-opening experience observing plant-insect interactions, I participated in an internship monitoring monarch larvae across experimental milkweed plantings. These experiences in addition to classes in genetics and entomology led to my current interests in studying the genetic consequences of moth pollination, particularly in areas of high land use change. I am broadly interested in mutualistic relationships between plants and insects, as well as population genetics. As a graduate student, I plan to investigate the genetic diversity of Amsonia tharpii, a rare flowering plant thought to be pollinated by hawkmoths. As A. tharpii is heavily impacted by land use change, I am interested in what pollinator group is most important for retaining genetic diversity as well as identifying whether the local community provides the resources needed to support those pollinators across all life stages.

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Andrew Davies, M.S. Expected 2023
​Plant Biology and Conservation Program – NU/CBG
​An undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences from Oregon State University prompted my long-awaited career change from finance to field botany. I graduated in 2018 and began working for the USGS in the Indiana Dunes shortly after. This position gave me a first insight into threatened species work with Cirsium pitcheri(Pitcher’s Thistle) which I was fascinated by. Since, I have worked in Alaska and California as a botany and forestry technician. Through this work I have developed interests in rare plant conservation, and how threatened and endangered species can persist in response to anthropogenic disturbances. More specifically, how population genetics can be used as a tool to better understand small populations in decline. I am also interested in vegetation mapping, habitat suitability modelling, and ecological restoration, particularly for rare species.


LAB ALUMNI
Postdocs
Tania Jogesh, Ph.D. Tania
was a postdoc on the NSF-Dimensions of Biodiversity project from 2014-2018. Current: Data Scientist with SF Data - City of San Francisco.
Rick Overson, Ph.D. Rick was a postdoc on the NSF-Dimensions of Biodiversity project from 2014-2017. Current: Research Manager, Cease Lab. Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability. Arizona State University. 

Visiting Scientists
Emily Dangremond, Ph.D., 2014-2016. Current: Assistant Professor of Biology, Roosevelt University

Research Assistants
Haley Carter      2017 - 2018     Current: PhD Student, Plant Biology & Conservation - NU/CBG, in Norm Wickett's lab
Lindsey Bechen 2016 - 2018     Current: Research Assistant at the Whitehead Institute, MIT, Cambridge, MA
Andrea Gruver   2015 - 2017     Current: Ms Student,
Plant Biology & Conservation - NU/CBG, in Paul Caradonna's lab
Emily Lewis        2014 - 2015     Current: Graduate Coordinator, Department of Math, Washington State University
Evan Hilpman     2008 - 2015    Current: PhD Student, Washington State University in Jeremiah Busch's Lab
Matt Rhodes       2013 - 2015    Current: Ecological Consultant, Lander, WY
Wes Glisson       2013 - 2014    Current: Research Scientist, University of Minnesota, 
in Dan Larkin's lab
Sadie Todd         2009 - 2013    Current: Entomologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Graduate Students (2 Ph.D., 9 M.S.)

Katie Wenzell, Ph.D. 2021. Plant Biology and Conservation Program - NU/CBG​. Do Pollinators Drive Divergence? Connecting Floral Phenotypes, Pollinators, and Gene Flow to Understand Floral Trait Divergence in Castilleja. Current: Postdoctoral scientist, John Innes Center, Norwich, UK. Kelsey Byer's lab.
Katherine (Kat) Andrews, M.S. 2019. Plant Biology and Conservation Program - NU/CBG​. Precipitation frequency negatively impacts plant survivorship, growth, phenology and herbivory in Oenothera harringtonii. Current: Director of cultivation, Standards and Practicies, Cresco Labs.
Kelly Ksiazek-Mikenas, Ph.D. 2017. Plant Biology and Conservation - Chicago Botanic Garden & Northwestern University. The potential of green roofs to provide habitat for native plant conservation. Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Biology; Director, Environmental Studies Program Biology Department, Elmhurst College.
Dan Bruzzese, M.S. 2016. Plant Biology and Conservation - Chicago Botanic Garden & Northwestern University. Host use and diversification of the genus Mompha (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Momphidae). Current: Ph.D. student in Jeff Feder’s lab at the University of Notre Dame.
Ben Cooper, M.S. 2016. Plant Biology and Conservation - Chicago Botanic Garden & Northwestern University. Revealing patterns of evolution in a recently radiated plant group, the Sundrops (Oenothera Section Calylophus:             Onagraceae) using target enrichment. Current: Data analyst, National Park Service, Las Cruces, NM.
Emily Lewis, M.S. 2015. Plant Biology and Conservation - Chicago Botanic Garden & Northwestern University. Differences in population genetic structure of hawkmoth- and bee-pollinated species of Oenothera (Onagraceae) are more pronounced at a landscape scale. Current: Graduate Coordinator, Department of Math, Washington State University
Matt Rhodes, M.S. 2013. Plant Biology and Conservation - Chicago Botanic Garden & Northwestern University. Spatial genetic structure and nonrandom pollination success in Oenothera harringtonii (Onagraceae). Current: Ecological Consultant, Lander, WY
Ricky Rivera M.S., 2013. Plant Biology and Conservation - Chicago Botanic Garden & Northwestern University. Quantitative genetics in a fragmented landscape, a study of heritable floral traits in Oenothera harringtonii (Onagraceae). Current: Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in Erika Marin-Spiotta's lab
Rebecca Barak
, M.S., 2012. 
Plant Biology and Conservation - Chicago Botanic Garden & Northwestern University. Assessing restoration potential of native forbs from cheatgrass-dominated habitats. Current:
Assistant Conservation Scientist, Chicago Botanic Garden.
Emily Booth, M.S., 201. Plant Biology and Conservation - Chicago Botanic Garden & Northwestern University. Potential effects of climate change on Penstemon palmeri at Zion National Park, Utah, U.S. Current: Postdoctoral researcher, Brent Sewall’s lab at Temple University.
Melissa Gray, M.S. 2011. Plant Biology and Conservation - Chicago Botanic Garden & Northwestern University. The effects of floral density manipulation on the pollination and reproductive success of Penstemon pachyphyllus. Current: Assistant editor in Plant and Environmental Science at Encyclopedia Britannica - Greater Chicago Area

Undergraduate Students
Kyann Young. 
Saint Xavier University. Research Intern. Summer 2021.
Laura Fehling. University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. REU Student Summer 2018. 
Casey Beidelman Northwestern University. Research intern. Summer 2017. 
Sydney Weil. 
Amherst College, 2018. Research Intern Summer 2017.
Melissa Vergara. University of California - Santa Cruz, 2018. REU Student Spring 2017.
Victoria Luizzi. Amherst College, 2017. REU Student Summer 2016.
Amanda Patsis. Amherst College, 2017. Research Intern Summers 2015, 2016.
Lindsey Bechen. Amherst College, 2016. Research Intern Summer 2015.
Adam Rork. Maryville University, 2017. REU Student Summer 2015.
Evan Levy. Colorado College, 2015. REU Student Summer 2015.
Taylor Tate. Northwestern University, 2015. Research intern 2013-2015.
Katherine (Kat) Andrews. Lake Forest College, 2015. Research intern 2013-2015.
Andrea Gruver. Gustavus Adolphus College, 2015. REU Student Summer 2014.
James Medina. Oberlin College, 2015. Summer 2012, Jan 2013, Summer 2013.
Evan Hilpman. Colorado College, 2010. Senior thesis co-advisor. Genetic analysis of a Colorado endemic threatened by anthropogenic landscape alteration: Oenothera harringtonii  (Onagraceae).
Sadie Todd. University of Missouri, Columbia, 2010. Summer 2009
Kathleen (KC) West. Claremont McKenna College, 2012. Winter 2012
Heather-Rose Kates. Oberlin College, 2011. NSF REU Student: 2010.  Variation in floral morphology in Oenothera harringtonii.
Carrie Klase. Warren Wilson College, 2012. NSF REU Student: 2009. Oenothera harringtonii fruit and seed morphology, weight, & seed viability analyses.
Quincy Roberts. Lake Forest College, 2009. Research Intern: 2008 – 2009.
Logan Senack. University of Connecticut, University Scholar and Honors Student, 2008. Senior thesis co-advisor: 2006 –2008. Seed size, germination, and the effects of herbivory in rare and common Desmodium species.
Rick and Tania process O. gayleana floral scent samples in a sliver of shade. Yeso Hills, NM. August, 2013.
Setting up scent pumps on O. harringtonii flowers. Sadie Todd, Heather-Rose Kates, Evan Hilpman, and Krissa. South of Walsenburg, CO. May 2010.
Team Oenothera following Matt's pollinator exclusion experiment. Comanche National Grasslands, CO. Kelly Ksiasek, Matt Rhodes, Sadie Todd, Evan Hilmpan, Krissa and Jeremie Fant. May 2012.
Krissa inspects a fruit of O. harringtonii, hoping to find a teeny, tiny Mompha larvae inside. Comanche National Grasslands, CO. May 2013.
Evan Hilpman and Norm Wickett press herbarium vouchers. Florence, CO. May 2010.
Jeremie and Krissa
kskogen[at]clemson.edu  
Clemson University
Department of Biological Sciences
132 Long Hall
Clemson, SC 29634
all content © Krissa Skogen 2022
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