Downie Lab Group, December 2007. Left to Right: Mary Ann Feist, Deborah Katz-Downie, Clark Danderson, Carolina Calviño, Stephen Downie and Jenny Cordes

Current Lab Members and Research Projects
Current research in our laboratory focuses on the evolution and systematics of the great plant family Apiaceae. This research extends from studies of phylogenetics to phylogeography and conservation biology, and eventually will also include comparative chloroplast genome organization and evolution. In addition to the research projects outlined below by current graduate students, our research is international and collaborative with many other projects underway. Such collaborative projects are being carried out by other graduate students under the supervison of Krzysztof Spalik (University of Warsaw, Poland), Carolina Calviño (Universidad del Comahue, Argentina), Ben-Erik van Wyk (University of Johannesburg, South Africa), and Mark Watson (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh).

Mary Ann Feist in the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. A possible refugium for Oxypolis occidentalis during the last ice age?

Mary Ann Feist
Mary Ann's Ph.D. thesis encompasses a monograph of the North American genera Ptilimnium and Oxypolis and their putatively related genera plus a phylogeographic study of Oxypolis occidentalis (western cow bane) from the Pacific Northwest. In addition, she is studying the systematics of the federally endangered species Ptilimnium nodosum. Her first publication suggests that neither Ptilimnium nor Oxypolis is monophyletic, with the rachis-leaved members of each comprising a clade separate from their compound-leaved congeners. Among the many awards that Mary Ann has received to date include a Catherine H. Beattie Fellowship for Conservation Horticulture, a John R. Laughnan Travel Award, a Francis M. and Harlie M. Clark Research Support Grant, and selection for participation in NSF's East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute Program.

Clark Danderson

Clark Danderson
For his dissertation research, Clark is studying the Arracacia clade of umbellifers. This group comprises some ten genera and 100 species distributed in montane regions of Central and South America. Preliminary results indicate that many genera within the clade are not monophyletic and the characters used traditionally to circumscribe taxa are overlapping and variable. Clark's goal will be to elucidate phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships within the clade, as well as to produce a taxonomic revision of Arracacia and its allies. In recognition of research excellence, Clark recently received a Francis M. and Harlie M. Clark Research Support Grant, a Harold C. and Sonja L. Labinsky Award, a Herbert H. Ross Memorial Award, and a travel grant from the Graduate College.

Jenny Cordes

Jenny Cordes
Jenny is studying the systematics of the genus Conium for her M.S. degree. Conium maculatum (poison hemlock), one of the most toxic members of the plant kingdom, was responsible for the death of Socrates. The genus is viewed as either monotypic or encompassing five species. Jenny is using morphology and molecular markers to delimit species within the group and to ascertain their phylogenetic relationships. In recognition of her research achievements, Jenny recently received a Francis M. and Harlie M. Clark Research Support Grant and a travel grant from the Graduate College to present a poster at the Botany 2008 meetings in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Deborah Katz-Downie
While not technically a student, Deborah is involved in a number of research projects in the laboratory. Her major responsibility, however, is to keep the lab running smoothly. She is in charge of the financial statements, dealing with the sales reps, ordering supplies and equipment, and making travel arrangements. Students in the laboratory (as well as international visitors and postdocs) are aided by Deborah's vast knowledge of the community, her great organizational skills, and her ability "to get the job done." Deborah also volunteers frequently to do the more tedious chores, such as editing sequence data and proof-reading manuscripts, and for this (and more, such as organizing our recent move to Austin, Texas where Stephen was on sabbatical leave in Bob Jansen's lab) her services are greatly appreciated! Deborah's current research projects include the phylogenetics of tribe Oenantheae and Apiaceae chloroplast genomics.