Summer Research Opportunity in Evolution and Ecology:
Sawyer Laboratory

Neil Sawyer (Plant Systematics/Reproductive Biology) received his Ph.D. in 1999 in Plant Systematics from the University of Connecticut. Sawyer is an Assistant Professor teaching Biology I: Plant Focus, Plant Taxonomy, Plant Kingdom, and Biological Foundations. His research is broad-based, centering on the systematics of genera in the nightshade family and reproductive biology of threatened species, including Asclepias hirtella and Trillium recurvatum. He is eminently familiar with computer programs such as PAUP*, MacClade, and Excel commonly used in systematics research.

At the University of Connecticut he taught as an instructor or as a graduate teaching assistant Introductory Botany, Plant Systematics, Aquatic Plant Biology, General Biology, Plant Biogeography, Plant Morphology, Plant Anatomy, Local Flora, and Field Ecology. Sawyer's research has involved years of extensive fieldwork in montane northwestern South America from Peru through Costa Rica. He has engaged undergraduates in research involving systematics of genera in the nightshade family, pollination biology of threatened Wisconsin species, and seed germination projects. His interest in pedagogical improvement has been demonstrated by his participation in the Teaching Scholars' program at UW-Whitewater and in the Faculty College at Manozamie, Wisconsin.

The Best Terp research will involve a continuation of a comparative investigation into the reproductive biology of Asclepias hirtella and A. verticillata. The study is primarily field-based. Some interesting data has already been collected and we will be expanding this. We also will try to be adding additional populations of A. hirtella to the study.

Research Paper