Miller Lab, January 2020
The Lab
The Miller Lab group is based at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and is a joint faculty partnership with the Department of Biology at Saint Louis University. Members of our group have a range of interests and expertise related to plant evolutionary biology, including bioinformatics, ethnobotany, evolutionary ecology, field botany, genetics, genomics, morphology, phylogeny reconstruction, pollination biology, and statistics, among much else.
We are very fortunate to work with a diversity of scientists on ongoing projects. Our current collaborators are based at the Danforth Plant Science Center, E. & J. Gallo Winery, The Land Institute, the Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri State University, South Dakota State University, the University of Missouri, the US Botanic Garden, and the US Department of Agriculture.
The Miller Lab group is based at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and is a joint faculty partnership with the Department of Biology at Saint Louis University. Members of our group have a range of interests and expertise related to plant evolutionary biology, including bioinformatics, ethnobotany, evolutionary ecology, field botany, genetics, genomics, morphology, phylogeny reconstruction, pollination biology, and statistics, among much else.
We are very fortunate to work with a diversity of scientists on ongoing projects. Our current collaborators are based at the Danforth Plant Science Center, E. & J. Gallo Winery, The Land Institute, the Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri State University, South Dakota State University, the University of Missouri, the US Botanic Garden, and the US Department of Agriculture.
Allison Miller, PhD
Allison Miller, PI
Allison is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Saint Louis University (faculty website) and a Member and Principal Investigator at the Danforth Plant Science Center (investigator website). She is also a Research Associate at the Missouri Botanical Garden. She is obsessed with plants and has been chasing down crops and their wild relatives for the better part of 15 years. Her research program focuses on evolutionary processes in contemporary and emerging perennial crops and their wild relatives. Ongoing work in her group includes grapevines, perennial, herbaceous legumes, and various fruit and nut trees. By understanding evolutionary processes in crop species and their ancestors, she hopes to contribute to the conservation of crop genetic resources, crop improvement, and sustainable agriculture. Originally from the Chicago area, Allison became interested in plants through trips to nearby prairie patches and summer vacations in northern Wisconsin. She holds a BS degree in Botany from Miami University and an MS degree in Botany from Colorado State University. She earned a PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Population Biology from Washington University in St. Louis in a joint program with the Missouri Botanical Garden. When she's not working on plants, Allison can be found riding her bike in Forest Park or attending a wide range of kids' sporting events in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Google Scholar Page
For more information on course that Allison teaches at SLU, please click here.
Contact Information:
allison.j.miller [at] slu.edu; amiller [at] danforthcenter.org
Google Scholar Page
For more information on course that Allison teaches at SLU, please click here.
Contact Information:
allison.j.miller [at] slu.edu; amiller [at] danforthcenter.org
Niyati Bhakta, SLU Bio/Math
Niyati Bhakta, Research Assistant (2019 - )
As an undergraduate student at SLU Niyati spent more than two years working on various projects with our lab group. She earned two degrees in Biology and Math in May 2019. She chose to study these subjects because she enjoys learning about science and problem solving. In her free time she volunteers with Campus Kitchen and Almost Home. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, and spending time with her friends.
We are delighted that Niyati returned to the lab as a research assistant in August, 2019. Welcome back, Niyati!
Contact Information:
nbhakta [at] danforthcenter.org
As an undergraduate student at SLU Niyati spent more than two years working on various projects with our lab group. She earned two degrees in Biology and Math in May 2019. She chose to study these subjects because she enjoys learning about science and problem solving. In her free time she volunteers with Campus Kitchen and Almost Home. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, and spending time with her friends.
We are delighted that Niyati returned to the lab as a research assistant in August, 2019. Welcome back, Niyati!
Contact Information:
nbhakta [at] danforthcenter.org
Leah Brand, Research Tech
Leah Brand, Research Technician (2019 - )
Leah was awarded her B.S. in Biology and undergraduate certification in Environmental Education from Missouri State University. She hopes to continue her education in plant biology. She has an interest in the evolution of beneficial host plant and animal relationships. She is very excited to learn more about perennial crop plants and their wild relatives through her position as a Research Technician in the lab. In her free time, Leah enjoys crocheting, baking, hiking, rock climbing, and taking various art classes for fun.
Leah was awarded her B.S. in Biology and undergraduate certification in Environmental Education from Missouri State University. She hopes to continue her education in plant biology. She has an interest in the evolution of beneficial host plant and animal relationships. She is very excited to learn more about perennial crop plants and their wild relatives through her position as a Research Technician in the lab. In her free time, Leah enjoys crocheting, baking, hiking, rock climbing, and taking various art classes for fun.
Ellie Corya, SLU Biology major
Ellie Corya, SLU Undergraduate Researcher (2020 - Present )
Ellie is a fourth-year undergraduate at Saint Louis University. She is a biology major with minors in Chinese and Asian studies. She hopes to one day become a veterinarian. Her interest in plant biology began freshman year after taking general biology and increasingly grew while taking economic botany. In her free time, Ellie enjoys volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, sailing, hiking, and baking.
Ellie is a fourth-year undergraduate at Saint Louis University. She is a biology major with minors in Chinese and Asian studies. She hopes to one day become a veterinarian. Her interest in plant biology began freshman year after taking general biology and increasingly grew while taking economic botany. In her free time, Ellie enjoys volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, sailing, hiking, and baking.
Zach Harris, PhD Student.
Zach Harris, SLU PhD Student (2017 - )
Zach completed his undergraduate career as a double major in environmental chemistry and general biology at Missouri State University. As an undergrad, he worked for a short time in a computational chemistry lab under the guidance of Dr. Matthew Siebert. His developed interest in computation coupled with an interest in biology led him to complete an MS in Biology at Missouri State under the guidance of Dr. Laszlo Kovacs. In the Kovacs lab, he worked on genome annotation, transcriptome profiling, and long non-coding RNA identification in grapevine. Toward the end of his tenure, he began working on the functional implications of RNA structure and function on resolving phylogentic relationships. He hopes to continue this work as a doctoral student while simultaneously determining the transcriptomic implications of rootstock selection. In his free time, he enjoys lab-unrelated big data explorations, Netflix, podcasts, and other inside activities.
Contact Information:
zachary.n.harris [at] slu.edu
Zach completed his undergraduate career as a double major in environmental chemistry and general biology at Missouri State University. As an undergrad, he worked for a short time in a computational chemistry lab under the guidance of Dr. Matthew Siebert. His developed interest in computation coupled with an interest in biology led him to complete an MS in Biology at Missouri State under the guidance of Dr. Laszlo Kovacs. In the Kovacs lab, he worked on genome annotation, transcriptome profiling, and long non-coding RNA identification in grapevine. Toward the end of his tenure, he began working on the functional implications of RNA structure and function on resolving phylogentic relationships. He hopes to continue this work as a doctoral student while simultaneously determining the transcriptomic implications of rootstock selection. In his free time, he enjoys lab-unrelated big data explorations, Netflix, podcasts, and other inside activities.
Contact Information:
zachary.n.harris [at] slu.edu
Sterling Herron, SLU PhD Student (2015 - )
Sterling Herron, PhD Student
Sterling was first drawn to plants through Native American ethnobotany of the southeastern Appalachians, starting a small business crafting jewelweed (anti-poison ivy) soap and lotion. He engaged in two REU programs during the summers of 2013 and 2014, studying human blood zymogens and the hybrid origin of the Concord grape cultivar (work with Jun Wen). After receiving a B.S. in biology and chemistry from Milligan College in 2015, he joined the Miller lab and began work on the perennial agriculture project, a collaboration among SLU, The Land Institute (Salina, KS), and the Missouri Botanical Garden (St Louis, MO), focusing on the legume family, Fabaceae. The central focus of his dissertation is to determine fundamental differences among congeneric herbaceous annuals and perennials in terms of germination, growth rate, reproductive allocation, and root allocation / architecture. When not staring at legumes, you can find him enjoying hiking, spelunking, photography, biomimicry, dogs, H.P. Lovecraft, and watching sunsets.
Contact Information:
sterling.herron [at] slu.edu
Contact Information:
sterling.herron [at] slu.edu
Tanvi Kadiyala, SLU Biology major
Tanvi Kadiyala, SLU Undergraduate Researcher (2019 - present)
I am currently a junior at Saint Louis University majoring in Biology and minoring in Health Care Ethics. My interest in plant biology began my freshman year after taking general biology. I am interested in learning more about how introducing perennial plants can affect agriculture and how it correlates with the health of humans. Outside of school I am an active singer and dancer.
I am currently a junior at Saint Louis University majoring in Biology and minoring in Health Care Ethics. My interest in plant biology began my freshman year after taking general biology. I am interested in learning more about how introducing perennial plants can affect agriculture and how it correlates with the health of humans. Outside of school I am an active singer and dancer.
Dr. Colin Khoury, Post-doc
Colin Khoury, PhD. Postdoc, USDA NIFA Crop Diversity Baseline Project (2019-)
Colin joined the Miller lab in September, 2019, with two years of research funding to better understand the changing diversity of corn, beans, and other crops in their centers of origins in Latin America. Colin received his PhD in production ecology and resource conservation from Wageningen University. He comes to us from the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation in Colorado (the US national genebank), and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Colombia. He formerly worked for the Global Crop Diversity Trust, at the time of the opening of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Colin’s research generally entails bringing together diverse expertise to contribute to conservation strategies for crop wild relatives and crop landraces; to develop Aichi Biodiversity Target, Sustainable Development Goal, and International Plant Treaty indicators; and to support evidence based decision making toward more sustainable food systems. He is also an avid salsa dance instructor and performer.
Colin joined the Miller lab in September, 2019, with two years of research funding to better understand the changing diversity of corn, beans, and other crops in their centers of origins in Latin America. Colin received his PhD in production ecology and resource conservation from Wageningen University. He comes to us from the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation in Colorado (the US national genebank), and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Colombia. He formerly worked for the Global Crop Diversity Trust, at the time of the opening of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Colin’s research generally entails bringing together diverse expertise to contribute to conservation strategies for crop wild relatives and crop landraces; to develop Aichi Biodiversity Target, Sustainable Development Goal, and International Plant Treaty indicators; and to support evidence based decision making toward more sustainable food systems. He is also an avid salsa dance instructor and performer.
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Dr. Matthew Maimaitiyiming, Post-doc
Matthew Maimaitiyiming, PhD. Post-doc at University of Missouri
Matthew Maimaitiyiming is a postdoctoral researcher at the university of Missouri-Columbia and joined the Miller lab in early September, 2019. He uses ground-, airborne-, and satellite-based observations and advanced machine learning approaches for characterizing vine physiology, which is critical for berry quality and yield. He earned his Bachelor of Science in geographic information system at Xinjiang University in China, 2009 and his master of science in geospatial technology from University of Lisboa in Portugal, 2013. In the same year, he was accepted as a PhD student by integrated appliance sciences program here at Saint Louis University. During the PhD years, his research focused on multiscale remote sensing and machine learning for improving grapevine productivity. His research is truly indispensable for the Missouri grape and wine industry. Prior to becoming a proud and obsessed dad, Matt enjoyed playing and watching soccer, travelling and enjoying good food. Now he barely manages to workout once a week.
Matthew Maimaitiyiming is a postdoctoral researcher at the university of Missouri-Columbia and joined the Miller lab in early September, 2019. He uses ground-, airborne-, and satellite-based observations and advanced machine learning approaches for characterizing vine physiology, which is critical for berry quality and yield. He earned his Bachelor of Science in geographic information system at Xinjiang University in China, 2009 and his master of science in geospatial technology from University of Lisboa in Portugal, 2013. In the same year, he was accepted as a PhD student by integrated appliance sciences program here at Saint Louis University. During the PhD years, his research focused on multiscale remote sensing and machine learning for improving grapevine productivity. His research is truly indispensable for the Missouri grape and wine industry. Prior to becoming a proud and obsessed dad, Matt enjoyed playing and watching soccer, travelling and enjoying good food. Now he barely manages to workout once a week.
Ilona Natsch, SLU biology major
Ilona Natsch, SLU Undergraduate Researcher.
Ilona is a second – year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Theology. After spending the fall semester completing field courses at Reis Biological Station, she knew that biology was her rightful home. At Reis, Ilona spent an entire month hiking around Missouri and learning about botany. It was on a sweltering afternoon atop Hughes’ Mountain when she finally decided that studying plants would be her vocation. In her free time, Ilona loves baking, reading, spending time at her farm, and everything related to the outdoors.
Ilona is a second – year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Theology. After spending the fall semester completing field courses at Reis Biological Station, she knew that biology was her rightful home. At Reis, Ilona spent an entire month hiking around Missouri and learning about botany. It was on a sweltering afternoon atop Hughes’ Mountain when she finally decided that studying plants would be her vocation. In her free time, Ilona loves baking, reading, spending time at her farm, and everything related to the outdoors.
Dr. Sagar Patel, Post-Doc
Dr. Sagar Patel, Postdoctoral Associate (Starting 2020)
He will be working on phenotypic and transciptomic data of an important grapevine cultivar 'Chambourcin'. He will work on developing the de novo assembly of a 'Chambourcin' genome, and to the analysis of whole genome sequence data generated for several major commercial rootstocks and their wild ancestors. He will also work on the other projects assigned to him. Sagar has experience with genome assembly of several Vitis and plant species. He is an experienced person with RNA-seq data analysis. Sagar has also trained under graduate students for NGS data analysis during his Ph.D and Post-Doc. He completed his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. Degrees at Sardar Patel University, INDIA. He got two travel fellowships to present his Ph.D work in the US (One from Government of INDIA worth US $2,500) and in CANADA (Second from OICR, CAN $1000) during his Ph.D. Sagar did his first post-doc at the South Dakota University where he was involved in de novo genome assembly of several Vitis species. He also collaborated with USDA, faculty members and trained under graduate students. Sagar did his second post-doc at The University of North Carolina, Charlotte where he did de novo gene prediction and annotation of bivalve species. Sagar is excited to work again with grape species at the Miller lab!
He will be working on phenotypic and transciptomic data of an important grapevine cultivar 'Chambourcin'. He will work on developing the de novo assembly of a 'Chambourcin' genome, and to the analysis of whole genome sequence data generated for several major commercial rootstocks and their wild ancestors. He will also work on the other projects assigned to him. Sagar has experience with genome assembly of several Vitis and plant species. He is an experienced person with RNA-seq data analysis. Sagar has also trained under graduate students for NGS data analysis during his Ph.D and Post-Doc. He completed his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. Degrees at Sardar Patel University, INDIA. He got two travel fellowships to present his Ph.D work in the US (One from Government of INDIA worth US $2,500) and in CANADA (Second from OICR, CAN $1000) during his Ph.D. Sagar did his first post-doc at the South Dakota University where he was involved in de novo genome assembly of several Vitis species. He also collaborated with USDA, faculty members and trained under graduate students. Sagar did his second post-doc at The University of North Carolina, Charlotte where he did de novo gene prediction and annotation of bivalve species. Sagar is excited to work again with grape species at the Miller lab!
Julia Pratt, SLU Biology and Computer Science major
Julia Pratt, SLU Undergraduate Researcher (2019 - ).
Julia Pratt is a second year undergraduate at Saint Louis University, currently studying computer science and biology. She is interested in exploring a career in bioinformatics. She has a passion for nature, and can often be found out on a run or in her room tending to her plants.
Julia Pratt is a second year undergraduate at Saint Louis University, currently studying computer science and biology. She is interested in exploring a career in bioinformatics. She has a passion for nature, and can often be found out on a run or in her room tending to her plants.
Matthew Rubin, Postdoctoral Associate (2019-)
Dr. Matthew Rubin, Post-doc
Matthew joined the Miller Lab group in early January as a Postdoctoral Associate. He is broadly interested in genetic mechanisms of adaptation to heterogeneous environments, and plasticity in trait expression across environmental regimes. His research takes a holistic approach to understand the abiotic environmental factors that influence trait expression, the developmental mechanisms that perceive and integrate these environmental signals at the whole organism level, and the amount of phenotypic variation and plasticity present for a given trait. He competed his B.S. and M.S. degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where his research focused on the role of season cues on germination timing in the model plant,Arabidopsis thaliana.Matthew completed his Ph.D. at the University of Wyoming focusing on examining quantitative variation in the circadian clock in plants grown under natural field conditions and the role of the circadian clock in regulating plant architecture. Most recently, Matthew was a Postdoctoral Associate at Syracuse University. He is excited to join the Miller Lab and work on projects relating to perennial agriculture!
Contact Information:
mrubin [at] danforthcenter.org
Contact Information:
mrubin [at] danforthcenter.org
Joel Swift, PhD Student
Joel Swift, SLU PhD Student (2017 -), NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Coming from a small rural town in central Missouri, as the middle child of six, I never imagined science could be a career, let alone research. It wasn't until I found myself in a chemistry course at State Fair Community College that this changed. I conducted an independent research project testing the effect of different root hormone concentrations on the success of tissue culturing using my very own Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula). This project allowed me to turn a passion for growing plants into a love of plant science. Continuing on with my academic career I attended the University of Central Missouri (UCM) pursuing a BS in Biology, taking many chemistry and genetics courses along the way. In the summer of 2014 I was an intern in the REU program at the Missouri Botanical Garden (MOBOT) working with Dr. Christine Edwards. I investigated the mating system of Polygala lewtonii (Polygalaceae), a federally endangered species endemic to the yellow sand scrub of central Florida, using population genetics at both range-wide and fine scales (~0.25km2). After graduating from UCM, I joined the Edwards lab at MOBOT as a lab technician working on all manner of things from Brassicaceae to bats in topics including DNA metabarcoding, population and conservation genetics, and biogeography. I will be joining the Miller lab, funded by a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, to work on understanding the ability of rootstock’s to modulate the phenotype of the scion across differing climates. Other hobbies and interest include building/breaking/exploring single-board and regular computers, reading for fun, listening to audio books/podcasts/etc, growing carnivorous plants, cooking, and disc golf.
Contact Information:
joel.swift [at] slu.edu
Coming from a small rural town in central Missouri, as the middle child of six, I never imagined science could be a career, let alone research. It wasn't until I found myself in a chemistry course at State Fair Community College that this changed. I conducted an independent research project testing the effect of different root hormone concentrations on the success of tissue culturing using my very own Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula). This project allowed me to turn a passion for growing plants into a love of plant science. Continuing on with my academic career I attended the University of Central Missouri (UCM) pursuing a BS in Biology, taking many chemistry and genetics courses along the way. In the summer of 2014 I was an intern in the REU program at the Missouri Botanical Garden (MOBOT) working with Dr. Christine Edwards. I investigated the mating system of Polygala lewtonii (Polygalaceae), a federally endangered species endemic to the yellow sand scrub of central Florida, using population genetics at both range-wide and fine scales (~0.25km2). After graduating from UCM, I joined the Edwards lab at MOBOT as a lab technician working on all manner of things from Brassicaceae to bats in topics including DNA metabarcoding, population and conservation genetics, and biogeography. I will be joining the Miller lab, funded by a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, to work on understanding the ability of rootstock’s to modulate the phenotype of the scion across differing climates. Other hobbies and interest include building/breaking/exploring single-board and regular computers, reading for fun, listening to audio books/podcasts/etc, growing carnivorous plants, cooking, and disc golf.
Contact Information:
joel.swift [at] slu.edu
Grace Trello, SLU Biology Major
Grace Trello, SLU Undergraduate Researcher (2019 - )
Grace Trello is a sophomore undergraduate at Saint Louis University studying Biology on the Pre-Med track. She is interested in the relationship between plants and human health and looks forward to learning more about plant biology in the lab. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine and medical research. Outside of her studies, she enjoys running, reading, volunteering, and traveling. She is also a member of SLU's Dance Marathon organization and is proudly FTK (for the kids).
Grace Trello is a sophomore undergraduate at Saint Louis University studying Biology on the Pre-Med track. She is interested in the relationship between plants and human health and looks forward to learning more about plant biology in the lab. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine and medical research. Outside of her studies, she enjoys running, reading, volunteering, and traveling. She is also a member of SLU's Dance Marathon organization and is proudly FTK (for the kids).
Brigette Williams, PhD Student
Brigette Williams, SLU PhD student (2016 - ); Needleman Fellow in Conservation Genetics
Brigette completed her B.S. in General Biology at Drury University and her M.S. in Plant Science at Missouri State University. During undergrad, she identified equal interest in plants and genetics, and then combined the two in her M.S. thesis research exploring the genetics of leaf shape morphology in grapes. She also has a life long interest in conservation and is a member of the Missouri Master Naturalists. She comes to SLU and the Missouri Botanical Garden to pursue a PhD in Plant Conservation Genetics as the 2016 Needleman Fellow. She will be co-advised by Dr. Allison Miller at SLU and Dr. Christine Edwards at Missouri Botanical Garden. Brigette is very excited to join both labs and hopes to use a novel approach to research the genetics of plasticity in a species of conservation concern. In her free time she enjoys being active outdoors, especially hiking, floating, and camping with her dogs.
Contact Information:
brigette.williams [at] slu.edu
Brigette completed her B.S. in General Biology at Drury University and her M.S. in Plant Science at Missouri State University. During undergrad, she identified equal interest in plants and genetics, and then combined the two in her M.S. thesis research exploring the genetics of leaf shape morphology in grapes. She also has a life long interest in conservation and is a member of the Missouri Master Naturalists. She comes to SLU and the Missouri Botanical Garden to pursue a PhD in Plant Conservation Genetics as the 2016 Needleman Fellow. She will be co-advised by Dr. Allison Miller at SLU and Dr. Christine Edwards at Missouri Botanical Garden. Brigette is very excited to join both labs and hopes to use a novel approach to research the genetics of plasticity in a species of conservation concern. In her free time she enjoys being active outdoors, especially hiking, floating, and camping with her dogs.
Contact Information:
brigette.williams [at] slu.edu
Henry and Lily, Junior Research Assistants
Henry and Lily, Junior Research Assistants.
Henry and Lily are a brother-and-sister research team focused primarily on insects and cute animals living in the Central West End in St. Louis. In their spare time they enjoy riding bikes, organizing pickup games of every sport imaginable, and looking after their four-legged research assistant Cookie.
Henry and Lily are a brother-and-sister research team focused primarily on insects and cute animals living in the Central West End in St. Louis. In their spare time they enjoy riding bikes, organizing pickup games of every sport imaginable, and looking after their four-legged research assistant Cookie.
Miller Lab Hall of Fame
Former Post-docs
Laura Klein, PhD. Postdoc, NSF Grape Grafting Project
Dr. Laura Klein, Post-doc
Laura started her botanical career in undergrad at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, where she spent two months at the Missouri Botanical garden measuring and and describing herbarium specimens for the Campanulaceae treatment in the Flora of China. After finishing her B.S. in 2010, she moved to southwest Ohio to get her M.S. at Miami University. There, Laura spent two glorious years in Miami's historic herbarium, surrounded by pickled fern specimens, studying morphology and introgressive hybridization between three species of North American Diphasiastrum (Lycopodiaceae). In 2012, she joined the Miller lab to study hybridization, evolutionary genomics, and morphology in North American Vitis (even though she still loves ferns). Other than plants, Laura enjoys biking, sampling various restaurants in St Louis, playing board games, and sitting on her balcony with a book.
Update: Laura is the Head Curator & Director of Herbal Research at Leafworks - congratulations, Laura!
Contact Information:
laura.klein [at] slu.edu
Update: Laura is the Head Curator & Director of Herbal Research at Leafworks - congratulations, Laura!
Contact Information:
laura.klein [at] slu.edu
Claudia Ciotir, PhD
Claudia Ciotir, PhD. Postdoc, Perennial Agriculture Project Global Inventory
Claudia Ciotir finished her PhD degree at Trent University, Canada where she worked in the lab of Dr. Joanna Freeland. Her work unraveled historical and contemporary processes that shaped genetic structure of disjunct and invasive plant species populations around the Great Lakes regions. Her research has shown that comparisons of regional and global phylogeographic patterns can provide useful insights for management decisions in conservation biology and invasive species.
Previously, Claudia completed her MSc in Plant Diversity Taxonomy and Evolution at The University of Reading, UK under the supervision of Dr. Alastair Culham, and completed her thesis on phylogeny and DNA barcoding of wild Cyclamen species. She also worked as research botanist for the Romanian Genebank where she was in charge of cataloguing crop wild relatives and documenting their regional in-situ and ex-situ conservation.
Claudia joined the Miller Lab in December 2015 and is working in the Perennial Agriculture Project, a collaborative partnership between The Land Institute, Saint Louis University, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. She is using a combination of literature, field experiments and genomic screening to develop a global large scale inventory of crop perennial legumes and to evaluate valuable traits that will allow the inclusion of potential candidate species in pre-breeding and domestication programs.
Claudia Ciotir finished her PhD degree at Trent University, Canada where she worked in the lab of Dr. Joanna Freeland. Her work unraveled historical and contemporary processes that shaped genetic structure of disjunct and invasive plant species populations around the Great Lakes regions. Her research has shown that comparisons of regional and global phylogeographic patterns can provide useful insights for management decisions in conservation biology and invasive species.
Previously, Claudia completed her MSc in Plant Diversity Taxonomy and Evolution at The University of Reading, UK under the supervision of Dr. Alastair Culham, and completed her thesis on phylogeny and DNA barcoding of wild Cyclamen species. She also worked as research botanist for the Romanian Genebank where she was in charge of cataloguing crop wild relatives and documenting their regional in-situ and ex-situ conservation.
Claudia joined the Miller Lab in December 2015 and is working in the Perennial Agriculture Project, a collaborative partnership between The Land Institute, Saint Louis University, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. She is using a combination of literature, field experiments and genomic screening to develop a global large scale inventory of crop perennial legumes and to evaluate valuable traits that will allow the inclusion of potential candidate species in pre-breeding and domestication programs.
Former Graduate Students
Steven Callen, PhD Biology (SLU 2016).
Steven Callen, PhD
Dissertation: “Evolution of mating systems in clonally reproducing perennial plants: a case study of the invasive species kudzu (Pueraria montana).”
Current position: Postdoctoral research associate at the Danforth Plant Science Center working in Malia Gehan's group.
For more information about Steven and his work check out his website: kudzucallen.weebly.com
CV
Current position: Postdoctoral research associate at the Danforth Plant Science Center working in Malia Gehan's group.
For more information about Steven and his work check out his website: kudzucallen.weebly.com
CV
Laura Klein, PhD Biology (SLU 2017).
See above - Laura completed a post-doc in the lab 2017 - 2019 after finishing her PhD in 2017.
See above - Laura completed a post-doc in the lab 2017 - 2019 after finishing her PhD in 2017.
Alex Linan, PhD Biology (SLU 2019)
Alex Linan, PhD Candidate
Alex finished his undergraduate degree at Missouri State University, where he worked in the lab of Dr. Laszlo Kovacs. During his Doctoral degree program at SLU, Alex will be co-advised by Christy Edwards (Conservation Geneticist, Missouri Botanical Garden) and Allison. Alex's project will focus on conservation genetics of the ebony/persimmon genus (Diospyros) in the Mascarenes.
Update: Alex successfully defended his PhD dissertation and accepted at postdoc at the Missouri Botanical Garden - congratulations, Alex!
Update: Alex successfully defended his PhD dissertation and accepted at postdoc at the Missouri Botanical Garden - congratulations, Alex!
Chrissy McAllister, PhD
Chrissy McAllister, PhD Biology (SLU 2014).
Dissertation: “The Origin, Evolution, and Ecology of Cytotype Diversity in Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii).”
Current position: Associate Professor and Science Unit Head, Principia College, Elsah, IL.
Since 1999, Chrissy has worked for the Department of Biology &
Natural Resources at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, teaching a wide range of botany-related courses. Her Master’s research at Kansas State University focused on plant ecophysiology—understanding how plants respond to the abiotic environment. Her doctoral research focused on plant population genetics, with a particular focus on exploring how past and current climate impacts population genetic structure in tallgrass prairie plants. She really enjoys working in undergraduate education, and she is excited about helping to increase undergraduate research opportunities both at St. Louis University and at Principia College.
Dissertation: “The Origin, Evolution, and Ecology of Cytotype Diversity in Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii).”
Current position: Associate Professor and Science Unit Head, Principia College, Elsah, IL.
Since 1999, Chrissy has worked for the Department of Biology &
Natural Resources at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, teaching a wide range of botany-related courses. Her Master’s research at Kansas State University focused on plant ecophysiology—understanding how plants respond to the abiotic environment. Her doctoral research focused on plant population genetics, with a particular focus on exploring how past and current climate impacts population genetic structure in tallgrass prairie plants. She really enjoys working in undergraduate education, and she is excited about helping to increase undergraduate research opportunities both at St. Louis University and at Principia College.
Carolina Romero-Hernandez, MS Biology (SLU 2011). Carolina is one of the world's experts on the species rich genus of legumes, Inga. She is currently working at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Current position: Research Specialist, Missouri Botanical Garden Research Division.
Current position: Research Specialist, Missouri Botanical Garden Research Division.
Danielle Sampliner, MS Biology (SLU 2009). Danielle conducted ethnobotanical, phylogenetic, and phylogeographic studies in the horseradish genus (Armoracia) for her Master's degree. Danielle is currently working at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Thesis title: “Ethnobotany and evolutionary history of horseradish (Armoracia rusticana, Brassicaceae).”
Current position: Biology teacher, Highland High School, Cleveland, OH..
Thesis title: “Ethnobotany and evolutionary history of horseradish (Armoracia rusticana, Brassicaceae).”
Current position: Biology teacher, Highland High School, Cleveland, OH..
Heather Schier, SLU MS student in Nutrition and Dietetics
Heather Schier, MS Nutrition and Dietetics (SLU 2018)
As a master's student in Saint Louis University's Nutrition and Dietetics program, Heather is on a quest to build a career that addresses rising health crises through a food system that heals injustices, both social and environmental. With advisor, Dr. Katie Eliot (Nutrition and Dietetics) and guidance from Dr. Allison Miller, Heather is focusing her thesis research on nutritive values and sensory qualities of perennial crops, namely legumes. She is excited to join the lab where she can develop interprofessional skills and collaborate with some groovy folk. Prior to joining the graduate program Heather completed her undergraduate degrees at Baldwin Wallace University, followed by one year of volunteer service with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. During her corps year she worked on projects addressing environmental restoration and injustices and wild fire mitigation in the pacific region of the US. Outside of her academics, Heather can be found riding her bike, backpacking, vegetable gardening, fantasizing of bougie wines and compromising with her insatiable dog, Conway.
Update: Heather has accepted a position as a Graduate Research Associate with Ohio State University's Interdisciplinary PhD program in Nutrition starting in Fall 2020. Congratulations, Heather!
As a master's student in Saint Louis University's Nutrition and Dietetics program, Heather is on a quest to build a career that addresses rising health crises through a food system that heals injustices, both social and environmental. With advisor, Dr. Katie Eliot (Nutrition and Dietetics) and guidance from Dr. Allison Miller, Heather is focusing her thesis research on nutritive values and sensory qualities of perennial crops, namely legumes. She is excited to join the lab where she can develop interprofessional skills and collaborate with some groovy folk. Prior to joining the graduate program Heather completed her undergraduate degrees at Baldwin Wallace University, followed by one year of volunteer service with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. During her corps year she worked on projects addressing environmental restoration and injustices and wild fire mitigation in the pacific region of the US. Outside of her academics, Heather can be found riding her bike, backpacking, vegetable gardening, fantasizing of bougie wines and compromising with her insatiable dog, Conway.
Update: Heather has accepted a position as a Graduate Research Associate with Ohio State University's Interdisciplinary PhD program in Nutrition starting in Fall 2020. Congratulations, Heather!
Former Research Assistants
Emma Frawley, Research Assistant
Emma Frawley, Research Assistant (2017-)
Emma is a graduate from Bucknell University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Spanish. At Bucknell she worked with Dr. Chris Martine in phylogenetics and systematics of Australian Solanums. She was involved with the identification of two new species of Solanum, in addition to an ecological niche-modeling project for four Solanum species complexes. Through her major, she became fascinated by the relationship between climate change and food systems, and the ways in which environmental issues can be solved through food systems, rather than worsened by them. Her honors thesis was about veganism and food culture. She is excited to be combining her interests in sustainable agriculture with botanical research in the Miller Lab. She is a cat lover and crossword enthusiast.
Update: Emma started a Ph.D. degree program in Ecology, Evolution, and Population Biology at Washington University in Fall, 2019. She was awarded a Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Fellowship for Women in Graduate Study. Congratulations, Emma!
Emma is a graduate from Bucknell University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Spanish. At Bucknell she worked with Dr. Chris Martine in phylogenetics and systematics of Australian Solanums. She was involved with the identification of two new species of Solanum, in addition to an ecological niche-modeling project for four Solanum species complexes. Through her major, she became fascinated by the relationship between climate change and food systems, and the ways in which environmental issues can be solved through food systems, rather than worsened by them. Her honors thesis was about veganism and food culture. She is excited to be combining her interests in sustainable agriculture with botanical research in the Miller Lab. She is a cat lover and crossword enthusiast.
Update: Emma started a Ph.D. degree program in Ecology, Evolution, and Population Biology at Washington University in Fall, 2019. She was awarded a Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Fellowship for Women in Graduate Study. Congratulations, Emma!
Former Undergraduates and Interns
Wes Agee, Harris-Stowe biology major
Wes Agee, Undergraduate Researcher.
Wesley is a Junior at Harris-Stowe State University, majoring in Biology. After becoming a McNair Scholar through Saint Louis University he was given Allison Miller as a mentor and placed within our lab. He was first introduced to plant science during an internship last summer (2017) through the Missouri & New York Botanical Gardens working under Gregory Plunkett & Pete Lowry. He then conducted phylogenetic research under David Bogler on the plant genus Thalia. Next he plans on attending graduate school to study Genomics. Wesley also considers himself a die-hard Los Angeles Lakers & Rams fan."
Wesley is a Junior at Harris-Stowe State University, majoring in Biology. After becoming a McNair Scholar through Saint Louis University he was given Allison Miller as a mentor and placed within our lab. He was first introduced to plant science during an internship last summer (2017) through the Missouri & New York Botanical Gardens working under Gregory Plunkett & Pete Lowry. He then conducted phylogenetic research under David Bogler on the plant genus Thalia. Next he plans on attending graduate school to study Genomics. Wesley also considers himself a die-hard Los Angeles Lakers & Rams fan."
Emily Boeckenstedt, Health Sciences/Biology
Emily Boeckenstedt, Undergraduate Researcher (2018).
Emily is a rising senior at Saint Louis University working towards a major in Health Sciences and a minor in Biology. She has been passionate about plant science and evolution for as long as she can remember, despite her intent to enter a medical profession. When she's not in the lab, you can find her working as a waitress at Flannery's Pub in downtown STL, or as a medical scribe at Barnes Jewish hospital. Despite what they tell you, working in a plant science lab does not give you a green thumb, so it is also likely you can find her at Home Depot replacing even the lowest-of-maintenance plants.
Emily is a rising senior at Saint Louis University working towards a major in Health Sciences and a minor in Biology. She has been passionate about plant science and evolution for as long as she can remember, despite her intent to enter a medical profession. When she's not in the lab, you can find her working as a waitress at Flannery's Pub in downtown STL, or as a medical scribe at Barnes Jewish hospital. Despite what they tell you, working in a plant science lab does not give you a green thumb, so it is also likely you can find her at Home Depot replacing even the lowest-of-maintenance plants.
Emma Bergh, NSF REU 2017
Emma Bergh, Missouri Botanical Garden NSF REU student (Summer 2017)
Emma is an upcoming 4th year student at Oberlin College, set to graduate with a major in Biology and a minor in Geology. She is especially interested in plant evolution. Originally from the Boston area, Emma loves backpacking, spending time with her dog, and baking (especially things with chocolate). As a summer 2017 REU intern she will be working on the Perennial Agriculture Project Global Inventory.
Emma is an upcoming 4th year student at Oberlin College, set to graduate with a major in Biology and a minor in Geology. She is especially interested in plant evolution. Originally from the Boston area, Emma loves backpacking, spending time with her dog, and baking (especially things with chocolate). As a summer 2017 REU intern she will be working on the Perennial Agriculture Project Global Inventory.
Madeleine Caito, Undergraduate Researcher (SLU Biology and Psychology 2015). Madeleine, a native of St. Louis. After graduation, Madeleine plans to attend medical school and to continue working in a research setting. Madeleine is very excited to join the Miller research team and will be working on the Mount Vernon project, aiming to identify the role of the rootstock on a grapevine’s phenotypic plasticity. Her love for plants stems from her childhood memories gardening with her grandmother, and her interest in grapevines in particular derives from her years spent living in the South of France. In Madeleine’s free time she adores traveling, cooking, playing the piano, and carrying on her grandmother’s passion by working in her personal garden.
Steve Chacko, Undergraduate researcher (SLU Biology and Music 2014). Steve worked in the lab during the last semester of his senior year at SLU. He is originally from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He will most likely be attending Creighton University School of Medicine in the fall. His hobbies include playing guitar and piano. Steve was a member of Team Landmark within the Miller Lab, placing landmarks on a variety of leaves from the Vitis genus to understand morphological relationships between a variety of species. This was a collaborative project with Dan Chitwood at the Danforth Plant Science Center.
Chad Chapnick, Undergraduate researchers (SLU 2018) Chad is pursuing a major in Biomedical Engineering at Saint Louis University. He strives to help others working on projects that positively impact society. Above all, he believes in the power of learning and understanding in order to adapt to a rapidly changing world. Some of his interests include cosmology, sustainable agriculture and energy production, and ecological science. Chad spends his free time meeting new people and experiencing the vibrant culture his city has to offer.
Maxwell Cyr, SLU Biology major
Maxwell Cyr, SLU Undergraduate Researcher (2019 - 2020)
Maxwell Cyr is a fourth year undergraduate at Saint Louis University set to graduate in May 2020 with a BS in Biology. He has a strong interest in plant biology and hopes to further his education in bioformatics and genetics. When Maxwell is off campus you can find him on a soccer pitch or tending to his indoor home garden
Maxwell Cyr is a fourth year undergraduate at Saint Louis University set to graduate in May 2020 with a BS in Biology. He has a strong interest in plant biology and hopes to further his education in bioformatics and genetics. When Maxwell is off campus you can find him on a soccer pitch or tending to his indoor home garden
Matthew Greg, Undergraduate Researcher (SLU Biology, History, Theology 2015). Matthew is from the southwest suburbs of Chicago, IL. He grew to love plants by being an Eagle Scout and a landscaper around his community. Matthew's interests in terms of botany include invasive species, particularly kudzu, and grapevines (Vitis species). He enjoys learning about the ecological impacts and economic importance of staple agricultural crops, as well as ethnobotany. Matthew is willing to learn anything and everything that comes his way, a true characteristic of a life-long learner and teacher, which he aspires to become one day.
UPDATE: Matthew started an M. Div. program at Duke University in Fall 2015 - congratulations, Matthew!
UPDATE: Matthew started an M. Div. program at Duke University in Fall 2015 - congratulations, Matthew!
Kayla Hannon, Technician (Summer 2019).
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Jordan Hathaway, SLU Biology major
Jordan Hathaway, SLU Undergraduate Researcher (Spring 2020)
Jordan is a senior in his final semester at SLU. In May he will graduate with a B.S. in Biology with a focus on evolution, ecology, and conservation. Jordan has spent the last three years as a member of SLU's Billiken Bee Lab investigating urban pollinator ecology. He is interested in finding ways to lessen the negative ecological impact of large-scale agricultural systems without jeopardizing yields. In his spare time Jordan enjoys playing rugby, hiking, gardening, watching movies and spending time with friends and family.
Jordan is a senior in his final semester at SLU. In May he will graduate with a B.S. in Biology with a focus on evolution, ecology, and conservation. Jordan has spent the last three years as a member of SLU's Billiken Bee Lab investigating urban pollinator ecology. He is interested in finding ways to lessen the negative ecological impact of large-scale agricultural systems without jeopardizing yields. In his spare time Jordan enjoys playing rugby, hiking, gardening, watching movies and spending time with friends and family.
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Nathan Held (Spring 2019)
Nathan worked in the lab in Spring 2019 helping to analyze ion concentrations in grapevine leaves. |
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Christian, Erin, and Danielle, SLU Biology majors
Christian Kingeter, Erin Knight, and Danielle Hopkins, SLU Undergraduate Researchers (2018).
Team Grape Leaf has been busy scanning in grapevine leaves collected by Ph.D Candidate Laura Klein and have signed up for another exciting semester of placing landmarks on the leaves. Laura's dissertation research focuses on using digital leaf morphometrics and population genetics to understand interspecific gene flow in natural populations of native grapevines. Portions of this work has been funded by the National Geographic Society, National Science Foundation, and the Saint Louis University Presidential Research Fund.
Update: After completing an internship at E. & J. Gallo Winery in California, Danielle was hired at as a Grower Outreach Viticulture Technician - congratulations Danielle!
Update: Christian Kingeter graduated in Spring 2017. Congratulations, Christian! Danielle and Erin graduated in 2018 - great job!
Team Grape Leaf has been busy scanning in grapevine leaves collected by Ph.D Candidate Laura Klein and have signed up for another exciting semester of placing landmarks on the leaves. Laura's dissertation research focuses on using digital leaf morphometrics and population genetics to understand interspecific gene flow in natural populations of native grapevines. Portions of this work has been funded by the National Geographic Society, National Science Foundation, and the Saint Louis University Presidential Research Fund.
Update: After completing an internship at E. & J. Gallo Winery in California, Danielle was hired at as a Grower Outreach Viticulture Technician - congratulations Danielle!
Update: Christian Kingeter graduated in Spring 2017. Congratulations, Christian! Danielle and Erin graduated in 2018 - great job!
Cassandra Kitchen, Undergraduate researcher (SLU 2015). Cassandra is a senior at SLU majoring in Biology and minoring in Conservation and Biodiversity; she participated in the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program (REU) program at the Missouri Botanical Garden in Summer 2014. She is interested in economically important plants, especially those which are dietary staples, and how they relate to their environments. She quantified Vitis morphological diversity in Dr. Miller’s lab. After graduation, she would like to continue working with plants, possibly in a greenhouse setting. Cassandra grew up in the St. Louis area. While she has a great love for any time she spends interacting with plants in nature or in her small garden, Cassandra also enjoys spending her time relaxing with a book or exploring the urban landscape with friends.
Aidan Leckie-Harre, Undergraduate Researcher (2018).
Dahlia Martinez, 2016 MBG REU participant
Dahlia Martinez, Undergraduate researcher, Missouri Botanical Garden NSF REU program. Dahlia is a senior at Holy Names University in Oakland, California where she is studying Biology. She came to St. Louis to participate in the 2016 Missouri Botanical Garden's NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. For her REU project, Dahlia worked with our group on the Global Inventory of Perennial Grains, Legumes, and Oilseed species in collaboration with The Land Institute. Early in the summer Dahlia and Allison traveled to Salina where Dahlia learned about the incredible Asteraceae genus Silphium during a special meeting/workshop of Silphium researchers. Dahlia worked with the Missouri Botanical Garden's herbarium collection of Silphium, as well as wild populations near St. Louis, to understand the relationship between seed production and vegetative characteristics in wild Silphium species.
UPDATE: Dahlia graduated from Holy Names University in ay 2017. She joined E. & J. Gallo Winery as an intern in summer 2017. She recently accepted a job as an Assistant Plant Breeder with PanAmerican Seed.
UPDATE: Dahlia graduated from Holy Names University in ay 2017. She joined E. & J. Gallo Winery as an intern in summer 2017. She recently accepted a job as an Assistant Plant Breeder with PanAmerican Seed.
Kazi Maharunnessa, Research Intern
Kazi Maharunnessa, Post graduate Research Intern (Fall 2019)
Kazi joined the Miller lab in October, 2019. Kazi recently moved to the United States after completing her bachelors and masters in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her master's thesis was on the molecular characterization of tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) tolerant germplasm in Bangladesh.
Kazi joined the Miller lab in October, 2019. Kazi recently moved to the United States after completing her bachelors and masters in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her master's thesis was on the molecular characterization of tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) tolerant germplasm in Bangladesh.
Emily Mitchell, SLU Biology major
Emily Mitchell, SLU Undergraduate Researcher (Spring 2020)
I am a senior undergraduate student at St. Louis University. I am a Biology major with an Anthropology minor. I am currently on the Pre-Med track. I am from a suburb of Chicago. I am interested in how plant biology and sustainability impacts human health, and I am looking forward to learning more about plant biology and lab techniques. Outside of my studies, I enjoy volunteering at Nurses’ for Newborns, participating in sorority activities, working out, reading, and traveling.
Update: Emily is graduating in May 2020 and will pursue a Master's degree in Medical Physiology at Case Western Reserve University. Congratulations, Emily!
I am a senior undergraduate student at St. Louis University. I am a Biology major with an Anthropology minor. I am currently on the Pre-Med track. I am from a suburb of Chicago. I am interested in how plant biology and sustainability impacts human health, and I am looking forward to learning more about plant biology and lab techniques. Outside of my studies, I enjoy volunteering at Nurses’ for Newborns, participating in sorority activities, working out, reading, and traveling.
Update: Emily is graduating in May 2020 and will pursue a Master's degree in Medical Physiology at Case Western Reserve University. Congratulations, Emily!
Colton Nettleton, SLU Biology major
Colton Nettleton, Undergraduate Researcher.
Colton is a second year student at SLU working towards a B.S. in Biology as well as minors in Public Health and Spanish (he enjoys being one of the few students at SLU majoring in biology without being pre-med or pre-anything for that matter). Colton is a member of the University Honors Program as well as the SLU Cross Country and Track Team and when he is not studying, running, eating, or sleeping, he likes to spend time volunteering with StudentsCare and Restore St. Louis. He has always held a fond place in his heart for nature, the outdoors, and plants which led him to take the Spring Flora field course at the SLU Reis Biological Station in the Summer of 2016. This passion also led him to this lab which he is very excited to be apart of. Colton is working on the Perennial Agriculture Project Global Inventory.
Update: Colton graduated in May 2019. He will attend graduate school at Emory University in Global Environmental Health starting in fall 2019.
Colton is a second year student at SLU working towards a B.S. in Biology as well as minors in Public Health and Spanish (he enjoys being one of the few students at SLU majoring in biology without being pre-med or pre-anything for that matter). Colton is a member of the University Honors Program as well as the SLU Cross Country and Track Team and when he is not studying, running, eating, or sleeping, he likes to spend time volunteering with StudentsCare and Restore St. Louis. He has always held a fond place in his heart for nature, the outdoors, and plants which led him to take the Spring Flora field course at the SLU Reis Biological Station in the Summer of 2016. This passion also led him to this lab which he is very excited to be apart of. Colton is working on the Perennial Agriculture Project Global Inventory.
Update: Colton graduated in May 2019. He will attend graduate school at Emory University in Global Environmental Health starting in fall 2019.
Regan O'Hanlon, Research Assistant (SLU 2015). Regan graduated from SLU with a BS degree in Biology in May 2015, and has generously agreed to stay on for the summer to continue her outstanding work with native grapevine leaf morphometrics and population genetics. Originally from the Quad Cities, Regan has been landmarking grapevine leaves in the since last summer. She has processed thousands of images and has contributed significantly to ongoing projects characterizing variation in leaf shape within Vitis.
UPDATE: Regan joined Food Corps in Iowa. Congratulations, Regan!
UPDATE: Regan joined Food Corps in Iowa. Congratulations, Regan!
Brooke Micke, SLU Biology major
Brooke Micke, Undergraduate researcher (SLU 2017)
Brooke is a senior at SLU studying Biology with a concentration in Plant Sciences and Anthropology. She is originally from Jefferson City but spent some time living in Lima, Peru. She has always loved plants but her interest in ethnobotany stems from her exposure to traditional medicine while in Peru. After graduating, Brooke hopes to continue her education by studying ethnobotany and medicinal uses of plants. Brooke helped the lab launch a new project conducting a global inventory of wild perennial grain and legume species that might be suitable for domestication. Then, she went to London for a semester where she worked with Sandy Knapp studying the ethnobotany of wild African Solanums at the Natural History Museum of London. Brooke recently returned to SLU as a junior where is going to continue both her Solanum work and her contributions to the global inventory project.
Update: Brooke graduated from SLU in 2017 and completed Master's program in Ethnobotany at the University of Edinburgh. She will begin a PhD program in Sweden in 2019. Congratulations, Brooke!
Brooke is a senior at SLU studying Biology with a concentration in Plant Sciences and Anthropology. She is originally from Jefferson City but spent some time living in Lima, Peru. She has always loved plants but her interest in ethnobotany stems from her exposure to traditional medicine while in Peru. After graduating, Brooke hopes to continue her education by studying ethnobotany and medicinal uses of plants. Brooke helped the lab launch a new project conducting a global inventory of wild perennial grain and legume species that might be suitable for domestication. Then, she went to London for a semester where she worked with Sandy Knapp studying the ethnobotany of wild African Solanums at the Natural History Museum of London. Brooke recently returned to SLU as a junior where is going to continue both her Solanum work and her contributions to the global inventory project.
Update: Brooke graduated from SLU in 2017 and completed Master's program in Ethnobotany at the University of Edinburgh. She will begin a PhD program in Sweden in 2019. Congratulations, Brooke!
Andrea Morroquin, NSF-REU Intern 2019
Andrea Marroquin, Missouri Botanical Garden NSF-REU Intern 2019
Andrea is currently finishing her B.S. in Biology with a minor in Honors and a focus in Anthropology at Northern Kentucky University. Andrea has done some research with plant domestication and with the invasive species, Honey suckle. Her interests are in plant conservation, ecology and ethnobotany. She hopes to pursue more schooling in one of those areas in the Fall of 2020. In her free time, she loves eating, exploring, and hanging out with friends.
Andrea is currently finishing her B.S. in Biology with a minor in Honors and a focus in Anthropology at Northern Kentucky University. Andrea has done some research with plant domestication and with the invasive species, Honey suckle. Her interests are in plant conservation, ecology and ethnobotany. She hopes to pursue more schooling in one of those areas in the Fall of 2020. In her free time, she loves eating, exploring, and hanging out with friends.
Lisa Millar, SLU biology major
Lisa Millar, Undergraduate Researcher (SLU 2019)
Lisa is a fourth year student at Saint Louis University pursuing a BA in Biology. She has always wanted to help people, and studying Biology has given her the opportunity to do that in so many ways! During the school year, she works as both a Medical Scribe and a teaching assistant for the Physics department. When she isn't spending her time studying, working, or researching, you can catch Lisa singing with her acappella group, walking her two dogs, or enjoying the great outdoors.
Lisa is a fourth year student at Saint Louis University pursuing a BA in Biology. She has always wanted to help people, and studying Biology has given her the opportunity to do that in so many ways! During the school year, she works as both a Medical Scribe and a teaching assistant for the Physics department. When she isn't spending her time studying, working, or researching, you can catch Lisa singing with her acappella group, walking her two dogs, or enjoying the great outdoors.
Brittany Pace, SLU Biology + Forensic Science major
Brittany Pace, Undergraduate Researcher (2018).
My name is Brittany Pace, and I am a Junior majoring in Biology and Forensic Science. Growing up, gardening with my family was a summer tradition, which inspired my love of plants. I enjoy working in the Miller lab because it allows me to do both lab and field work. I am excited to be able to work with plants in new and interesting ways and learn more about plant biology! In my spare time I enjoy reading, hiking, collecting mugs, and cheering on my own houseplants.
My name is Brittany Pace, and I am a Junior majoring in Biology and Forensic Science. Growing up, gardening with my family was a summer tradition, which inspired my love of plants. I enjoy working in the Miller lab because it allows me to do both lab and field work. I am excited to be able to work with plants in new and interesting ways and learn more about plant biology! In my spare time I enjoy reading, hiking, collecting mugs, and cheering on my own houseplants.
Daniel Pap, Visiting Researcher (Missouri State University). Daniel is finishing up his Master's degree at Missouri State University under the direction of Laszlo Kovacs. He is visiting St. Louis (June 2013) to work on population genetics analyses of microsatellite and GBS data for Vitis rupestris and related species. Daniel is currently enrolled in a PhD program with Andy Walker at UC Davis.
Akash Patel, SLU Electrical Engineering major
Akash Patel, SLU Undergraduate Researcher (2019-2020)
I am a junior at SLU majoring in electrical engineering with a concentration in bio-electronics and minoring in biomedical engineering. I am a part of green billikens, IEEE, campus kitchen at SLU. In my free time, I like to read, tutor, and volunteer. I hope to pursue a career in the medical field.
I am a junior at SLU majoring in electrical engineering with a concentration in bio-electronics and minoring in biomedical engineering. I am a part of green billikens, IEEE, campus kitchen at SLU. In my free time, I like to read, tutor, and volunteer. I hope to pursue a career in the medical field.
Paige Pearson, SLU Biology major
Paige Pearson, Undergraduate Researcher.
Paige graduated from SLU in 2018 with a B.A. in Biology along with a Theology Major. She is from St. Louis and she loves biology; from plants to animals. She is involved in XA (Christian Group) and Women’s Club Lacrosse. She works at the Saint Louis Zoo as a behavioral research intern studying the behaviors of different animals such as the polar bear, gorillas, and giraffes. Outside of her life at SLU and the zoo, she enjoys activities like working out, hiking, and spending quality time with friends. Her passion for Biology allowed her to pursue this great lab opportunity. Paige will be working on the Perennial Agriculture Project. Paige is also the best lab selfie taker ever.
UPDATE: Paige is working as a Biologist at Bayer. Congratulations, Paige!
Paige graduated from SLU in 2018 with a B.A. in Biology along with a Theology Major. She is from St. Louis and she loves biology; from plants to animals. She is involved in XA (Christian Group) and Women’s Club Lacrosse. She works at the Saint Louis Zoo as a behavioral research intern studying the behaviors of different animals such as the polar bear, gorillas, and giraffes. Outside of her life at SLU and the zoo, she enjoys activities like working out, hiking, and spending quality time with friends. Her passion for Biology allowed her to pursue this great lab opportunity. Paige will be working on the Perennial Agriculture Project. Paige is also the best lab selfie taker ever.
UPDATE: Paige is working as a Biologist at Bayer. Congratulations, Paige!
Chelsea Pretz, Undergraduate researcher (Harris Stowe State University, 2015). Chelsea has a deep interest in plant biology and simply just enjoys being outside. She participated in the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at the Missouri Botanical Garden, summer 2014. During that time she was able to explore the ecology of prairies. Chelsea is an undergraduate at Harris-Stowe State University. She grew up in St. Louis and is excited to do research in the community she loves. In the Miller Lab, Chelsea is working on a project involving the use of genetic data to understand interspecific hybridization in native grapevines. For the summer of 2015, Chelsea is participating in the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at the Danforth Plant Science Center. In her free time you can find Chelsea biking, cooking, traveling, volunteering or tending to her garden.
UPDATE: Chelsea was awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship! She is current a PhD student at the University of Colorado.
UPDATE: Chelsea was awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship! She is current a PhD student at the University of Colorado.
Alexandra Rader, SLU Biology/Music major
Alexandra Rader, SLU Undergraduate Researcher (2018).
Alexandra is a senior at Saint Louis University pursuing a BA in biology and music. She fell in love with biology, but she didn’t want to stop studying the flute, which she has played for eleven years. So, she decided to major in both! Alex has assisted in research in nearly every facet of biology, from the genetics of miscanthus grass, to the ecology of bee populations, to molecular biology using fruit flies, but found that she most enjoyed working with and researching plants. She currently volunteers with an organization called Pop Up Prairie, tending to micro-prairies in public parks across St. Louis. When she’s not in a lab, Alex enjoys experimenting with makeup, performing stand up and improv comedy, drinking local beer, and spoiling her two cats, Marlow and Phenylalanine.
Alexandra is a senior at Saint Louis University pursuing a BA in biology and music. She fell in love with biology, but she didn’t want to stop studying the flute, which she has played for eleven years. So, she decided to major in both! Alex has assisted in research in nearly every facet of biology, from the genetics of miscanthus grass, to the ecology of bee populations, to molecular biology using fruit flies, but found that she most enjoyed working with and researching plants. She currently volunteers with an organization called Pop Up Prairie, tending to micro-prairies in public parks across St. Louis. When she’s not in a lab, Alex enjoys experimenting with makeup, performing stand up and improv comedy, drinking local beer, and spoiling her two cats, Marlow and Phenylalanine.
Ted Sananikone, SLU Biology major
Ted Sananikone, SLU Undergraduate Researcher (2019 )
I am a senior undergraduate at Saint Louis University studying Biology on the Pre-Dental track. I am interested in learning more about the development of sustainable plant agriculture and the interconnected relationship between plants and health. Outside of classes, I enjoy hiking, photography, volunteering, traveling and trying good food & boba.
I am a senior undergraduate at Saint Louis University studying Biology on the Pre-Dental track. I am interested in learning more about the development of sustainable plant agriculture and the interconnected relationship between plants and health. Outside of classes, I enjoy hiking, photography, volunteering, traveling and trying good food & boba.
Marissa Sandoval, REU intern
Marissa Sandoval, Missouri Botanical Garden NSF-REU Intern 2018
Marissa is an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley. She's majoring in biology, with an emphasis in biodiversity, and minoring in Spanish. As an intern for the summer of 2018, Marissa will be working on the Perennial Agriculture Project. She enjoys coffee, sunshine, telenovelas, podcasts, and natural history museums.
Update: Marissa is doing an REU program at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Summer 2019.
Marissa is an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley. She's majoring in biology, with an emphasis in biodiversity, and minoring in Spanish. As an intern for the summer of 2018, Marissa will be working on the Perennial Agriculture Project. She enjoys coffee, sunshine, telenovelas, podcasts, and natural history museums.
Update: Marissa is doing an REU program at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Summer 2019.
Shaun Sarmiento, Undergraduate researcher (SLU Biology 2013). Shaun headed up the horseradish project. He made crosses, amplified SI loci, prepped samples for genotyping by sequencing, and analyzed data. Currently Shaun is teaching in the Jesuit College Preparatory College of Dallas.
Samantha Selby, SLU undergraduate researcher
Samantha Selby, Undergraduate researcher (SLU 2016). Samantha majored in Biology and minored in Public Health and was a member of the University Honors Program. Sam has done a lot of cool things as an undergraduate at SLU including completing a semester of courses at the Saint Louis University Reis Biological Field Station, working as an intern in the Botanical Society of America's Planting Science Program, and most recently as an undergraduate researcher on the Global Inventory of Perennial Grains, Legumes, and Oilseed species. As part of this project, in the summer of 2016 Sam is based at the Missouri Botanical Garden working to gather information on wild members of the genus Vigna (Fabaceae). Using Vigna as a model, she is testing hypotheses about how wild, congeneric annuals and perennial species allocate resources sexual reproduction vs. vegetative growth.
UPDATE: Sam joined the Peace Corps!
UPDATE: Sam joined the Peace Corps!
Summer Sherrod NSF REU 2017
Summer Sherrod, Missouri Botanical Garden NSF REU student (2017)
Summer is a learner at heart with an insatiable curiosity and a passion for science with integrity. Her personal mission is to synthesize traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific understanding to forge a new paradigm of ecocentric living.
Summer spent some time at the University of Arkansas where she discovered a love for plants and pursued a major in Horticulture before she transferred to the University of North Texas to complete a B.S. in Geography. Her specific research interests are in sustainable and urban agriculture systems, agroecology, and the ethnobotany & flora of the Ozarks bioregion. She is working under the mentorship of ethnobiologist Dr. Steve Wolverton and biogeographer Dr. Lisa Nagaoka to complete an undergraduate thesis for the McNair Scholars Program, evaluating the UNT campus' landscape plants for their ecological and ornamental services. In Dr. Miller's lab, she is working on the Perennial Agriculture Project Global Inventory as a participant in the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Previously, she has worked as the City Horticulturist for the City of Eureka Springs (AR), as the resident native plant specialist in an Ozark nursery, and as a Sustainability Intern for the University of Arkansas, a regional solid waste management company, and a California-based environmental non-profit. She spends her off hours foraging and wildcrafting, drinking all different kinds of tea, and working for an organic urban farm in St. Louis.
Summer is a learner at heart with an insatiable curiosity and a passion for science with integrity. Her personal mission is to synthesize traditional ecological knowledge with modern scientific understanding to forge a new paradigm of ecocentric living.
Summer spent some time at the University of Arkansas where she discovered a love for plants and pursued a major in Horticulture before she transferred to the University of North Texas to complete a B.S. in Geography. Her specific research interests are in sustainable and urban agriculture systems, agroecology, and the ethnobotany & flora of the Ozarks bioregion. She is working under the mentorship of ethnobiologist Dr. Steve Wolverton and biogeographer Dr. Lisa Nagaoka to complete an undergraduate thesis for the McNair Scholars Program, evaluating the UNT campus' landscape plants for their ecological and ornamental services. In Dr. Miller's lab, she is working on the Perennial Agriculture Project Global Inventory as a participant in the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Previously, she has worked as the City Horticulturist for the City of Eureka Springs (AR), as the resident native plant specialist in an Ozark nursery, and as a Sustainability Intern for the University of Arkansas, a regional solid waste management company, and a California-based environmental non-profit. She spends her off hours foraging and wildcrafting, drinking all different kinds of tea, and working for an organic urban farm in St. Louis.
Jake Timmer, Undergraduate researcher (SLU Biology 2013). Jake worked closely with Shaun Sarmiento on the horseradish project. He stayed busy extracting DNA, amplifying putative S alleles, and conducting pollination experiments.
UPDATE: Jake is in a Master's of Science degree program in Finance at Southern Methodist University. Congratulations, Jake!
UPDATE: Jake is in a Master's of Science degree program in Finance at Southern Methodist University. Congratulations, Jake!
Olivia Weigl, SLU Biology major
Olivia Weigl, Undergraduate Researcher (2018).
Olivia graduated from SLU in 2018 with majors in biology and international studies major with a minor in Spanish. She chose these studies because of her love of science and cultural diversity. She is involved in APO (the service fraternity), ZTA (social sorority), Oriflamme, and transfer mentors. In her spare time she works out and hangs out with friends. She was born and raised in south county St. Louis. Olivia transferred from Loyola University Chicago her sophomore year and found herself at the National University of Galway last fall where she was fortunate enough to travel around Europe. Olivia attended the Reis station last summer where she first heard of this opportunity.
UPDATE: Olivia is working for Teach for America - congratulations Olivia!
Olivia graduated from SLU in 2018 with majors in biology and international studies major with a minor in Spanish. She chose these studies because of her love of science and cultural diversity. She is involved in APO (the service fraternity), ZTA (social sorority), Oriflamme, and transfer mentors. In her spare time she works out and hangs out with friends. She was born and raised in south county St. Louis. Olivia transferred from Loyola University Chicago her sophomore year and found herself at the National University of Galway last fall where she was fortunate enough to travel around Europe. Olivia attended the Reis station last summer where she first heard of this opportunity.
UPDATE: Olivia is working for Teach for America - congratulations Olivia!
Vickie Williams, Visiting Researcher.
Vickie Williams, Visiting Undergraduate Researcher.
Update: Vickie is heading into her junior year at Davidson College. She is majoring in Biology and History.
Update: Vickie is heading into her junior year at Davidson College. She is majoring in Biology and History.
Angela Wu, SLU Bioinformatics and Computational Biology graduate student
Angela Wu, SLU Bioinformatics Graduate Intern (2019-2020)
Angela is a second-year master’s student at Saint Louis University studying Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. After receiving a B.A. in biochemistry from University of Colorado at Boulder in 2013, she worked at a peptide manufacturing company in Fremont, California, and that was where she realized the importance of data analysis and saw the usefulness of computational skills in many fields. Angela is interested in exploring and using various statistical and machine learning methods to make data more meaningful to the users. In her free time, she loves to get good food and do ballet.
Angela is a second-year master’s student at Saint Louis University studying Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. After receiving a B.A. in biochemistry from University of Colorado at Boulder in 2013, she worked at a peptide manufacturing company in Fremont, California, and that was where she realized the importance of data analysis and saw the usefulness of computational skills in many fields. Angela is interested in exploring and using various statistical and machine learning methods to make data more meaningful to the users. In her free time, she loves to get good food and do ballet.
Tracy Zander, Undergraduate researcher (SLU Public Health 2013). Tracy hails from Geneva, Illinois. As an undergraduate at SLU, she contributed to several projects including Geocarpon, horseradish, kudzu, and grape. Tracy graduated in 2013 and is now pursuing a Master's of Public Health at SLU. Although her dream career is to be a neo-natologist, she is fascinated by just about everything that plants do and plans to always be involved in botany to some degree! She has greatly enjoyed helping with the molecular work of Geocarpon, horseradish, Vitis, and kudzu (for which she also assisted with a pollination study), but she will always be captivated by the glandular trichomes of the carnivorous Drosera (sundew), and by the brilliantly evolved Ophrys (bee orchid). Aside from plants, she also greatly enjoys running, white water kayaking, and playing the cello.
UPDATE: Tracy completed the Master's degree in Public Health at Saint Louis University and is currently working in the Nashville area. Congratulations, Tracy!
UPDATE: Tracy completed the Master's degree in Public Health at Saint Louis University and is currently working in the Nashville area. Congratulations, Tracy!
SLU Undergraduate researchers (2006 - 2012)
Daniela Rey Ardila; Fall 2010.
Huawei Wang, SLU BA Biology 2011 (in lab 2010 - 2011)
Rory Arrigo, SLU BA Biology 2012 (in lab 2009 – 2012); Veterinary School at University of Illinois
Kyle Blacker, SLU BA Biology 2012 (in lab 2009 – 2012)
Lauren Broecker, SLU BS Environmental Science 2011 (in lab 2010 – 2011)
Michael Indergaard, SLU BA Biology 2011 (in lab 2008 – 2011); graduate school at SLU
Taylour Carlisle (in lab 2008)
Michael Joseph, SLU BA Biology 2010 (in lab 2008 – ‘10) ; graduate school at Washington State University
Silvia Ardila, SLU BA Biology 2011 (in lab 2008 –’10); medical school at University of Toledo
Luke Gatta, SLU BS Nutrition and Dietics/BA Philosophy 2013 (in lab Summer 2010)
Sarah Waninger, BA Biology 2010 (in lab 2008 –‘10); currently a med student at Indiana University
Omar Viswanath, SLU BA Biology 2009 (in lab 2008 – ‘09); currently med student at Creighton University
Tracey Bertram, SLU BA Biology 2009 (in lab 2007 – ‘09); currently med student at Saint Louis Univ.
Wendy Swetzig, BA Biology 2008 (in lab 2008); currently a graduate student at SUNY Buffalo
Theresa Knoblock, BA Biology 2007 (in lab 2007)
Huawei Wang, SLU BA Biology 2011 (in lab 2010 - 2011)
Rory Arrigo, SLU BA Biology 2012 (in lab 2009 – 2012); Veterinary School at University of Illinois
Kyle Blacker, SLU BA Biology 2012 (in lab 2009 – 2012)
Lauren Broecker, SLU BS Environmental Science 2011 (in lab 2010 – 2011)
Michael Indergaard, SLU BA Biology 2011 (in lab 2008 – 2011); graduate school at SLU
Taylour Carlisle (in lab 2008)
Michael Joseph, SLU BA Biology 2010 (in lab 2008 – ‘10) ; graduate school at Washington State University
Silvia Ardila, SLU BA Biology 2011 (in lab 2008 –’10); medical school at University of Toledo
Luke Gatta, SLU BS Nutrition and Dietics/BA Philosophy 2013 (in lab Summer 2010)
Sarah Waninger, BA Biology 2010 (in lab 2008 –‘10); currently a med student at Indiana University
Omar Viswanath, SLU BA Biology 2009 (in lab 2008 – ‘09); currently med student at Creighton University
Tracey Bertram, SLU BA Biology 2009 (in lab 2007 – ‘09); currently med student at Saint Louis Univ.
Wendy Swetzig, BA Biology 2008 (in lab 2008); currently a graduate student at SUNY Buffalo
Theresa Knoblock, BA Biology 2007 (in lab 2007)
Former High School students
Allison Rea, STARS student (Summer 2019, Spring 2020)
Allison Rea is a high school senior at Ladue Horton Watkins High school. She has always had a love of nature and has furthered it through the many Biology classes Ladue offers. She is a part of her school's chapter of the Science National Honors Society and their Botany club - The Green Team. During her undergraduate experience, she hopes to major in Biological Sciences and go on to specialize in Botany in graduate school. In her free time, Allison loves to bake, read and do martial arts. She is thrilled to be working with the Miller Lab again! Allison worked with our group in Summer 2019 and did a great job looking at variation and covariation in early life stage traits in Onobrychis viciifolia.
Allison Rea is a high school senior at Ladue Horton Watkins High school. She has always had a love of nature and has furthered it through the many Biology classes Ladue offers. She is a part of her school's chapter of the Science National Honors Society and their Botany club - The Green Team. During her undergraduate experience, she hopes to major in Biological Sciences and go on to specialize in Botany in graduate school. In her free time, Allison loves to bake, read and do martial arts. She is thrilled to be working with the Miller Lab again! Allison worked with our group in Summer 2019 and did a great job looking at variation and covariation in early life stage traits in Onobrychis viciifolia.