Biography

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University. I work at the interface of disciplines to show how innovations in plant structure-function relationships impact evolution and diversity. Most of this work follows two parallel and connected paths: (1) understanding how the allometry of genome size and cell size influence cell, tissue, and organism structure and function, and (2) characterizing the physiological dimensions of flower evolution.

My research seeks to define the factors that constrain or promote phenotypic and functional diversity. While most of my work focuses on vascular plants, many of the principles I elucidate are applicable to other kingdoms of life.

I actively collaborate with soft matter physicists to understand the 3D structure, organization, and biomechanical function of plant tissues. This work has been supported by two recent grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation.