Research Opportunities
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate students can contact faculty in the Plant Biology and Conservation Program to learn about research opportunities. Below are some examples of undergraduate students research projects.
Recent Highlights
- Recent publication with undergraduate first author: Gijsman, F., K. Havens, and P. Vitt. 2020. Lifetime fecundity of a threatened Great Lakes endemic, Cirsium pitcheri. Global Ecology and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00945
- Leta Dickinson, undergraduate student in environmental sciences, awarded the Undergraduate Research Fletcher Award 2019, recognizing an outstanding senior thesis for her study: “Population genetics of the endangered, Artocarpus annulatus, a crop wild relative of jackfruit.”
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Recent publication with undergraduate first author: 2020. Genetic diversity and structure of the critically endangered Artocarpus annulatus, a crop wild relative of jackfruit (A. heterophyllus) PeerJ 8:e9897 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9897
| Name | Major | Years | Research | Mentor |
| Finote Gijsman | 2021 | Conservation of Great Lakes endemic plant | Pati Vitt and Kay Havens | |
| Leta Dickinson | Environmental Science | 2019 | Population genetics of a crop wild relative of jackfruit. | Nyree Zerega |
| Sean Obrochta | 2019 | Plant demographic responses to changes in pollination | Amy Iler | |
| Benjamin Sanchez | Chemistry, Environmental Policy and Culture | 2019 | Can soil microbes modulate the response of tropical dry forests to reduced rainfall? | Louise Egerton-Warburton |
| Emma Belanger | Environmental Science | 2018 | Reproductive Ecology of Aster furcatus | Pati Vitt, Nora Gavin Smith |
| Adam Flam | 2018 | Pati Vitt, | ||
| Elaine Jiang | Business | 2018 | Andrea Gruver, Paul CaraDonna | |
| Christina Shehata | Neuroscience | 2018 | Using Genetics to help Hawaiian's endangered flora | Jordan Wood, Jeremie Fant |
| Alicia Wala | Environmental Science | 2018 | Andrea Gruver, Paul CaraDonna | |
| Christina Shehata | Neuroscience | 2017-2019 | Adapting and testing phylogenetic methods for detection of selection in plants | Colby Witherup |
| Angela Walwema | Environmental Science | 2017-2018 | Effect of floral albedo on soil microclimate | Amy Iler |
| Finote Gijsman | Plant Biology and Environmental Sciences | 2016, 2017,19 | Integrated Conservation of an Orchid Rich Habitat in Door County Wisconsin | Pati Vitt |
| Benjamin Barteau | 2016, 2017 | The importance of Cirsium pitcheri, a rare plant species, as a pollinator resource | Kay Havens, Pati Vitt | |
| Taran Lichtenberger | Biology, Plant Concentration | 2015, 2016 | Intraspecific traits of native prairie species | Andrea Kramer; Evelyn Williams |
| Luis Anzures | 2015 | Genomics of Oenothera xylocarpa | Anita Cisternas, Jeremie Fant | |
| Gabriela Carr | Biological Sciences, Environmental Policy and Culture | 2015 | Broadening definitions of plant biodiversity in restored tallgrass prairies | Rebecca Barak; Dan Larkin; Evelyn Williams |
| Kenneth Jops | Mathematics/Environmental Science/Chemistry | 2015 | Demographic consequences of seed germination patterns in Lespedeza leptostachya | Pati Vitt |
| Robert Sherman | 2015 | Lauren Audi, Lindsey Bechen and Jeremie Fant | ||
| Taylor Tate | Environmental Science | 2015 | Pollinator traits & characteristics of flowers in the evening primrose family | Krissa Skogen |
| Ryan Anderson | 2014 | Moss Genomics - New techniques for old lineages | Norm Wickett | |
| Lisa Kim | 2014 | Moss Genomics - New techniques for old lineages | Norm Wickett | |
| Raudel Cabral | Biological Sciences | 2013, 2015 | Moss genomic research | Norm Wickett |
| Jessica Ross | Biology, Plant Concentration | 2013, 2014 | Restoration of tallgrass prairies | Louise Egerton-Warburton, Lauren Umek |
| Arianna Farmer | Mathematics | 2013 | Moss genomic research | Norm Wickett |
| Alexander Shaffer | Plant Biology and Classical Studies | 2013 | Genetics of Nursery grown Castilleja levisecta, the golden paintbrush | Jeremie Fant |
| Hazel Levine | Environmental Science | 2012 | Emily Yates; Susanne Masi | |
| Sohier Dane | Biology | 2005 | Checking for Inbreeding Depression in Cirsium hillii | Jeremie Fant; Susanne Masi |
| Anne Fabricius | Biology | 2005 | ISSR as a technique to distinguish Lilium species and cultivars: evaluations and applications | Jim Ault |
| Kyle Hamm | 2004 | Monitoring a Chicago Area- Recreating a Natural Environment | Boyce Tankersley | |
| Tegan Jones | Journalism | 2004 | In Search of Ramon: A Paleoethnobotanical Study of Plant Remains from Tikal | Christopher Morehart; David Lentz |
| Mercedes Stickler | Environmental Policy and African Studies | 2004 | Effects of Self Versus Outcross Pollination on Pollen Tube Growth in Platanthera leucophaea | Pati Vitt |
| Daiyon Kpou | Using spatial analysis and GIS to investigate patterns in rare plants | Nyree Zerega, Elliot Gardener |