Katie Wenzell
@kewenzell.bsky.social
Plant evolutionary ecologist. Asst Prof of Plant Conservation & Herbarium Director at South Dakota State U. Looks at flowers, professionally. Views my own. she/her
kewenzell.com
kewenzell.com
Pinned
Katie Wenzell
@kewenzell.bsky.social
· Mar 20
Very happy to see the work from my postdoc with @plantpollinator.bsky.social finally out! We explored floral color shifts in two monkeyflower species across floral traits, gene expression, and pollinator responses to understand early stages of floral divergence: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
This story has been such a long time coming! We found that the family of MYB transcription factors that makes pink tomatoes has a wacky cousin involved in the evolution of red flowers in Iochroma. #MYBs4Ever
In #G3journal, @iochromaland.bsky.social and the team present a new genetic pathway in flower color evolution and investigate how this mechanism operates within the flavonoid pathway, which is critical for pigment production in flowers and fruits. buff.ly/7sithlg
November 26, 2025 at 5:02 AM
This story has been such a long time coming! We found that the family of MYB transcription factors that makes pink tomatoes has a wacky cousin involved in the evolution of red flowers in Iochroma. #MYBs4Ever
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
I'm hiring a full time fixed-term 1yr lab tech to assist with field and greenhouse projects related to floral evolution and plant reproductive ecology. Please share! Ideal start date early 2026.
jobs.clemson.edu/psc/ps/JOBS/...
jobs.clemson.edu/psc/ps/JOBS/...
November 24, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I'm hiring a full time fixed-term 1yr lab tech to assist with field and greenhouse projects related to floral evolution and plant reproductive ecology. Please share! Ideal start date early 2026.
jobs.clemson.edu/psc/ps/JOBS/...
jobs.clemson.edu/psc/ps/JOBS/...
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
🎉 Great news! The paper ‘From bats to bees: changes in flower anthesis and nectar traits drive a pollination ecotype in dwarf Caryocar brasiliense (Caryocaraceae)’ in @annbot.bsky.social by Caio Ballarin and co-authors is now #free for 2 weeks 🧵(1/7)
👉 doi.org/qfdp
#AoBpapers
👉 doi.org/qfdp
#AoBpapers
November 20, 2025 at 9:17 PM
🎉 Great news! The paper ‘From bats to bees: changes in flower anthesis and nectar traits drive a pollination ecotype in dwarf Caryocar brasiliense (Caryocaraceae)’ in @annbot.bsky.social by Caio Ballarin and co-authors is now #free for 2 weeks 🧵(1/7)
👉 doi.org/qfdp
#AoBpapers
👉 doi.org/qfdp
#AoBpapers
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Our new review on the “circular seabird economy”
- how seabirds circulate nutrients betwem ocean and land, supporting ecosystems and livelihoods …https://www.nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00099-w
- how seabirds circulate nutrients betwem ocean and land, supporting ecosystems and livelihoods …https://www.nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00099-w
The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people - Nature Reviews Biodiversity
Seabirds are top predators and nutrient cyclers in marine island ecosystems, but are threatened by risk of extinction. This Review explores the circular seabird economy around islands and discusses ho...
www.nature.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Our new review on the “circular seabird economy”
- how seabirds circulate nutrients betwem ocean and land, supporting ecosystems and livelihoods …https://www.nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00099-w
- how seabirds circulate nutrients betwem ocean and land, supporting ecosystems and livelihoods …https://www.nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00099-w
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Improving plant DNA #metabarcoding accuracy with ecological filters and #Angiosperms353: Field and pollen microscopy validation
New in #AppsPlantSci by Benkendorf, @sophietaddeo.bsky.social, Fant et al
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #botany #PlantScience #herbaria #ecology
New in #AppsPlantSci by Benkendorf, @sophietaddeo.bsky.social, Fant et al
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #botany #PlantScience #herbaria #ecology
October 31, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Improving plant DNA #metabarcoding accuracy with ecological filters and #Angiosperms353: Field and pollen microscopy validation
New in #AppsPlantSci by Benkendorf, @sophietaddeo.bsky.social, Fant et al
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #botany #PlantScience #herbaria #ecology
New in #AppsPlantSci by Benkendorf, @sophietaddeo.bsky.social, Fant et al
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #botany #PlantScience #herbaria #ecology
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
I'm recruiting PhD students for the Barker Lab @uofa-eeb.bsky.social We study plant evolutionary genomics - polyploidy, hybridization & machine learning for genome evolution. Work with Selaginella, Xanthisma, Brassica & more. Funding available via CAMBIUM Fellowships. Reach out if interested! 🧬🌵🤖
October 24, 2025 at 5:01 AM
I'm recruiting PhD students for the Barker Lab @uofa-eeb.bsky.social We study plant evolutionary genomics - polyploidy, hybridization & machine learning for genome evolution. Work with Selaginella, Xanthisma, Brassica & more. Funding available via CAMBIUM Fellowships. Reach out if interested! 🧬🌵🤖
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Excited by this breakthrough work led by Dr. Lauren Stanley (now Assistant Professor at Central Michigan University). Lauren was able to develop for the first time floral dip/spray transformation methods in the yellow monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus). bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Just add water: A simple floral bud injection method for stable Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation in two ecotypes of Mimulus guttatus
Premise Stable transformation is the biggest barrier to studying gene function in plants. In most species, transformation requires tissue culture and regeneration methods that may be arduous and cau...
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 13, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Excited by this breakthrough work led by Dr. Lauren Stanley (now Assistant Professor at Central Michigan University). Lauren was able to develop for the first time floral dip/spray transformation methods in the yellow monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus). bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
NSF GRFP solicitation is finally up. Life Sci deadline extended to Nov 10 but 2nd year grad students no longer eligible www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 26, 2025 at 8:00 PM
NSF GRFP solicitation is finally up. Life Sci deadline extended to Nov 10 but 2nd year grad students no longer eligible www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
If you are or you know people on an #H1B, get in touch with your U international office to get guidance and know what you/they should/should not be doing.
I just received the information below from #AAUP. Feel free to share and check in with your immigrant friends/colleagues. They are not doing ok.
I just received the information below from #AAUP. Feel free to share and check in with your immigrant friends/colleagues. They are not doing ok.
September 23, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Congratulations to Emma Fetterly, who is wrapping up her master’s thesis: “Evaluating drivers of flower color polymorphism in Castilleja coccinea,” with the Northwestern/Chicago Botanic Garden Graduate Program in Plant Biology and Conservation. 🧪
September 16, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Congratulations to Emma Fetterly, who is wrapping up her master’s thesis: “Evaluating drivers of flower color polymorphism in Castilleja coccinea,” with the Northwestern/Chicago Botanic Garden Graduate Program in Plant Biology and Conservation. 🧪
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Hybridization and introgression are major evolutionary processes. Since the 1940s, the prevailing view has been that they shape plants far more than animals. In our new study (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
), we find the opposite: animals exchange genes more, and for longer, than plants
), we find the opposite: animals exchange genes more, and for longer, than plants
September 12, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Hybridization and introgression are major evolutionary processes. Since the 1940s, the prevailing view has been that they shape plants far more than animals. In our new study (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
), we find the opposite: animals exchange genes more, and for longer, than plants
), we find the opposite: animals exchange genes more, and for longer, than plants
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Cover of "When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy"!!! published by @henryholtbooks.bsky.social.
I can't tell you all adequately how proud of & eager I am to share this with the world!!!
Coming January 20, 2026
Pre-order NOW: bookshop.org/p/books/when...
I can't tell you all adequately how proud of & eager I am to share this with the world!!!
Coming January 20, 2026
Pre-order NOW: bookshop.org/p/books/when...
September 8, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Cover of "When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy"!!! published by @henryholtbooks.bsky.social.
I can't tell you all adequately how proud of & eager I am to share this with the world!!!
Coming January 20, 2026
Pre-order NOW: bookshop.org/p/books/when...
I can't tell you all adequately how proud of & eager I am to share this with the world!!!
Coming January 20, 2026
Pre-order NOW: bookshop.org/p/books/when...
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Congratulations to Dr. Drake Mullett on successfully defending his dissertation, “Effects of Root and Stem Hemiparasitic Plants on Tallgrass Prairie Plant Species,” advised by Dr. Stuart Wagenius with the Northwestern / Chicago Botanic Garden Graduate Program in Plant Biology and Conservation. 🧪
September 9, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Congratulations to Dr. Drake Mullett on successfully defending his dissertation, “Effects of Root and Stem Hemiparasitic Plants on Tallgrass Prairie Plant Species,” advised by Dr. Stuart Wagenius with the Northwestern / Chicago Botanic Garden Graduate Program in Plant Biology and Conservation. 🧪
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
We're recruiting!! Myself along with Nathan Gill, Dylan Schwilk @schwilk.org, and Katharine Suding are recruiting people for Master's, PhD, and postdoc positions in GrassFire, an NSF funded project examining fuels and fire risk in grassland ecosystems across the Southern Great Plains! 🔥🌿🐮
September 8, 2025 at 8:29 PM
We're recruiting!! Myself along with Nathan Gill, Dylan Schwilk @schwilk.org, and Katharine Suding are recruiting people for Master's, PhD, and postdoc positions in GrassFire, an NSF funded project examining fuels and fire risk in grassland ecosystems across the Southern Great Plains! 🔥🌿🐮
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Do you fish in freshwater? Please share or/and complete survey gathering data on observations of insects for a study on aquatic insect population declines! The link to survey is here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/VXLMY89. Especially in need of information from #Canada, #SouthAmerica, #Africa & #Australia!
Angler Hatch Survey
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
www.surveymonkey.com
September 8, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Do you fish in freshwater? Please share or/and complete survey gathering data on observations of insects for a study on aquatic insect population declines! The link to survey is here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/VXLMY89. Especially in need of information from #Canada, #SouthAmerica, #Africa & #Australia!
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
After several years studying grasses and forbs in Yellowstone National Park in the US, researchers have formally documented the power of bison as nature’s own fertilizing agents. cen.acs.org/environment/... #chemsky 🧪
How bison boost the nitrogen cycle—and create healthier plants
The large herbivores stimulate plant growth by cycling carbon and nitrogen in the soils of Yellowstone National Park, showing benefits of free-roaming wildlife
cen.acs.org
September 7, 2025 at 1:10 PM
After several years studying grasses and forbs in Yellowstone National Park in the US, researchers have formally documented the power of bison as nature’s own fertilizing agents. cen.acs.org/environment/... #chemsky 🧪
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
We are recruiting a Research Scientist in Genetics trained in plant population genetics to run the Conservation Genetics Research Program! This is an incredible opportunity to work on a diverse and active team in a biodiversity hotspot!!! recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/J...
Atlanta Botanical Garden Inc - Research Scientist, Genetics
The Atlanta Botanical Garden seeks a highly qualified scientist with training in plant population genetics to serve in the role of Research Scientist in Genetics within the Southeastern Center for Con...
recruiting.paylocity.com
August 29, 2025 at 9:16 PM
We are recruiting a Research Scientist in Genetics trained in plant population genetics to run the Conservation Genetics Research Program! This is an incredible opportunity to work on a diverse and active team in a biodiversity hotspot!!! recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/J...
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Congrats to Dr. Haley Carter, who completed her Ph.D. from the Northwestern/Chicago Botanic Garden Graduate Program in Plant Biology and Conservation last year: “Causes and consequences of floral scent diversity in a rare evening primrose,” co-advised by Dr. Krissa Skogen and Dr. Norm Wickett!
August 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Congrats to Dr. Haley Carter, who completed her Ph.D. from the Northwestern/Chicago Botanic Garden Graduate Program in Plant Biology and Conservation last year: “Causes and consequences of floral scent diversity in a rare evening primrose,” co-advised by Dr. Krissa Skogen and Dr. Norm Wickett!
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Is the Most Effective Pollinator Principle a zombie idea? How do plants adapted to one pollinator shift to another without traversing an adaptive valley? How should we measure fitness in pollinator selection studies? We explore these questions and more in a new review doi.org/10.1093/aob/...
Beyond the Grant–Stebbins model: floral adaptive landscapes and plant speciation
AbstractBackground. Floral diversity, a striking feature of angiosperm evolution, provides the impetus and rationale for linking pollinator-driven selectio
doi.org
August 8, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Is the Most Effective Pollinator Principle a zombie idea? How do plants adapted to one pollinator shift to another without traversing an adaptive valley? How should we measure fitness in pollinator selection studies? We explore these questions and more in a new review doi.org/10.1093/aob/...
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
#OnThisDay in 1858, a seminal journal article comprised of papers by Alfred Russel Wallace FRS and Charles Darwin FRS on the theory of evolution by natural selection was published by the Linnean Society, the first public announcement of the theory of evolution. bit.ly/3k8fq4u
August 20, 2025 at 1:36 PM
#OnThisDay in 1858, a seminal journal article comprised of papers by Alfred Russel Wallace FRS and Charles Darwin FRS on the theory of evolution by natural selection was published by the Linnean Society, the first public announcement of the theory of evolution. bit.ly/3k8fq4u
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Write-up of Shannon's paper, with a neat photo of a #bee face. news.unt.edu/news/2025/un...
August 18, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Write-up of Shannon's paper, with a neat photo of a #bee face. news.unt.edu/news/2025/un...
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Please repost and amplify !
We are hiring a faculty position in Evolutionary Genetics in the Biology Department at U of South Carolina!
Check us out and come be our colleague!
sc.edu/study/colleg...
Deadline for applications is Oct 1
#AcademicJobs #EvoBio
We are hiring a faculty position in Evolutionary Genetics in the Biology Department at U of South Carolina!
Check us out and come be our colleague!
sc.edu/study/colleg...
Deadline for applications is Oct 1
#AcademicJobs #EvoBio
Assistant Professor position in Evolutionary Genetics - Department of Biological Sciences | University of South Carolina
sc.edu
August 12, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Please repost and amplify !
We are hiring a faculty position in Evolutionary Genetics in the Biology Department at U of South Carolina!
Check us out and come be our colleague!
sc.edu/study/colleg...
Deadline for applications is Oct 1
#AcademicJobs #EvoBio
We are hiring a faculty position in Evolutionary Genetics in the Biology Department at U of South Carolina!
Check us out and come be our colleague!
sc.edu/study/colleg...
Deadline for applications is Oct 1
#AcademicJobs #EvoBio
Reposted by Katie Wenzell
Just want to shoutout a new study from the Wessinger Lab by my colleague @trinitydepatie.bsky.social. bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/.... She investigated the repeated evolution of personate flowers within Penstemon by examining patterns of introgression, topological discordance, and
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 3, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Just want to shoutout a new study from the Wessinger Lab by my colleague @trinitydepatie.bsky.social. bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/.... She investigated the repeated evolution of personate flowers within Penstemon by examining patterns of introgression, topological discordance, and