RESEARCH AREAS
Ecology, Systematics, Taxonomy, and Evolution
Molecular and Cell Biology, Bioinformatics, Physiology
Ecology, Systematics, Taxonomy, and Evolution
Research in ecology, systematics, taxonomy, and evolution in Miami's Botany department spans scales from molecules to ecosystems and includes applied and basic science. Evolutionary biologists and systematists in Botany are working to provide an accurate view of the taxonomic diversity within select plant groups, resolve evolutionary relationships among related groups of species, understand the processes that drive these diversifications, and explore the dynamic changes within the plant genome --- how evolution occurs at the molecular and cellular levels. Ecologists in the Botany department are investigating invasive species, rare species and biodiversity, population and community dynamics, plant-animal interactions, reproductive biology, and forest ecosystem dynamics. Application of ecology to pressing societal issues includes ecological restoration, phytoremediation, harvest sustainability, and ethnobotany. Students and faculty regularly conduct field research at international locations including Mexico, Central America, Peru, Kenya, and the Bahamas.
Susan R. Barnum, Evolution of cyanobacteria and nitrogen fixation genes; structure, function, and evolution of DNA insertion elements in cyanobacteria, evolution of symbiotic cyanobacteria and plant- cyanobacteria interactions, heterocyst differentiation.
David L. Gorchov, Plant ecology, invasive plants, population biology of rare plants, and forest management.
Adolph M. Greenberg, Ecological, medical, and applied anthropology; national parks/protected areas; ethnoecology/ethnobotany.*
R. James Hickey, Morphology and systematics, especially of pteridophytes. Origin and diversity of the Bahamian flora. Pedagogy and college teaching.
Carolyn Howes Keiffer, Plant physiological ecology, halophyte biology, restoration ecology, and phytoremediation.
Kimberly E. Medley, Environmental and human influences on the biogeography and ecology of forests; ethnoecology/ethnobotany in East Africa; applied conservation.*
Richard C. Moore, Plant evolutionary genetics, duplicate gene evolution, evolution of sexual reproduction systems, evolution of plant development (evo-devo)
Neal Sullivan, Forest Ecology and landscape level modeling of forest processes.**
Vivian Negrón-Ortiz, Systematics and reproductive biology of plants of the Caribbean basin.**
Nancy L. Smith-Huerta, Floral and pollen development; pollination biology.
M. Henry H. Stevens, Ecology and evolution of community dynamics and biodiversity; statistical methods.
Michael A. Vincent, Plant taxonomy, floristics, herbarium curation.
Molecular and Cell Biology, Bioinformatics, Physiology
Areas of research focus on molecular, cellular, and physiological aspects of plants, fungi, and cyanobacteria, as well as bioinformatics for genomics and proteomic research, and utilizing biological databases for databasr mining. Examples include plant stress metabolism, the evolution of sexual reproduction in plants, resistance to plant pathogens, plant gravitropism, and molecular signaling during cell differentiation and nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria. Students also have the option of participating in the interdepartmental Molecular Biology Program supported by the Departments of Botany, Chemistry, Microbiology, and Zoology.
Diana J. Davis, Biochemistry of fungal growth, reproduction, and dispersal.**
Richard E. Edelmann, Electron microscopy, cellular ultrastructure, and mycology.
Daniel K. Gladish, Development of root systems, especially the effects of environmental factors on root development.
Alfredo J. Huerta, Plant stress metabolism and environmental physiology.
Helen Guirangossian Kiss, Plant developmental biology in ferns; plant hormones and flowering.**
John Z. Kiss, Cell biology, gravitropism in higher and lower plants, space biology, phototropism, ultrastructure, and cryotechniques in electron microscopy.
Qingshun Quinn Li, Molecular biology and biochemistry of plant mRNA polyadenylation; genetic engineering of plant resistance to pathogens.
Chun Liang, Bioinformatics; plant genomics, proteomics and metabolics; biological databases and data mining.
Chris Makaroff, Biochemistry, cell biology and molecular biology of pollen development.*
Roger D. Meicenheimer, Developmental plant anatomy; plant morphogenesis; pattern formation in plants ; phyllotaxis.
Nicholas P. Money, Mechanisms of fungal growth, reproduction, and pathogenesis; fungal evolution; indoor molds.
The research focus in this area focuses on using modern methods to study plant and fungal structure and development. Investigations range from the ultrastructural to the whole organism level, and individual research areas (with an emphasis on the importance of evolutionary adaptations) include root biology, phyllotaxis, floral biology, fungal development, and space biology. Excellent support facilities include greenhouses, growth chambers, the Center for Advanced Microscopy & Imaging at Miami University, and the Center for Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics.
Richard E. Edelmann, Electron microscopy, cellular ultrastructure, and mycology.
Daniel K. Gladish, Development of root systems, especially the effects of environmental factors and the role of programmed cell death in root development.
Helen Guirangossian Kiss, Plant developmental biology in ferns; plant hormones and flowering.**
John Z. Kiss, Gravitropism and phototropism, cell biology, plant physiology, space biology, and cryotechniques in electron microscopy.
Roger D. Meicenheimer, Developmental plant anatomy; plant morphogenesis; pattern formation in plants ; phyllotaxis.
Nicholas P. Money, Mechanisms of fungal growth, reproduction, and pathogenesis; fungal evolution; indoor molds.
Nancy L. Smith-Huerta, Floral and pollen development; pollination biology.
* Indicates Affiliate Faculty
** Indicates Adjunct Faculty