Dr. Jeff Conner
Principal Investigator

Mechanisms of rapid adaptation

W.K. Kellogg Biological Station
Michigan State University
3700 E Gull Lake Dr, Hickory Corners, MI 49060
Office: (269) 671-2269
Email: connerj@msu.edu
Pronouns: he/him

Education & Experience
Ph.D. , Cornell University, 1988
Professor, Dept. of Plant Biology & KBS, 2003-present
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)

Jimmy Bingman

  • Pronouns: he/him
  • Ph.D. Student (start: 2022)
  • bingmanj@msu.edu
  • Research interests: mechanisms of evolution, phenotypic correlations, constraints on evolution
  • Non-research interests: sports, reading, writing, art, music, camping, birdwatching

Robin Waterman

  • Pronouns: she/her
  • Ph.D. Student (start: 2020)
  • waterm29@msu.edu
  • Research interests: phenotypic plasticity, rapid adaptation to agricultural environments
  • Non-research interests: ballroom dancing, skiing, rock climbing, science fiction

Sophie Buysse

  • Pronouns: she/her
  • Ph.D. Student (start: 2020)
  • buysseso@msu.edu
  • Research Interests: GxE interaction, genomic/transcriptiomic methods, phenotypic plasticity
  • Non-research interests: hiking, biking, Nordic skiing, gardening, cooking, food preservation
Jimmy Bingman

Ava Garrison

  • Pronouns: she/her
  • Postdoc (start: 2022)
  • garri115@msu.edu
  • Research interests: agricultural weed evolution, adaptation to novel environments, phenotypic plasticity
  • Non-research interests: Cross stitching, roller derby, hiking, so much tv

Kate Shaw

  • Pronouns: she/her
  • Research Technician (start: 2023)
  • mcglewka@msu.edu
  • Research interests: mechanisms of evolution and plant growth
  • Non-research interests: hiking, ice cream, movies, potatoes, canoeing

Charlie Anker

  • Pronouns: she/her
  • Master’s student (start: 2023)
  • ankercha@msu.edu
  • Research interests: plant biology, mechanisms of evolution
  • Non-research interests: crocheting, crosswords, watching terrible movies

Angie Lane

  • Pronouns: she/her
  • Research technician

Former Lab Members

Current positions listed and names linked with websites where applicable

Graduate Students

Ava Garrison

  • Ph.D. 2022

Amanda Charbonneau

  • Ph.D 2018
  • Program Manager, Common Fund Data Ecosystem

Sam Perez

  • M.S. 2017

Raffica La Rosa

  • Environmental Scientist, CA Dep. of Fish & WIldlife
  • Ph.D 2015

Anne Royer

  • Assistant Professor, University of Scranton
  • Ph.D. 2014

Frances Knapczyk

  • Conservation Program Manager, Napa County Resource Conservation District
  • Ph.D. 2007

Angela Roles

  • Associate Professor, Oberlin College
  • Ph.D. 2007

Heather Sahli

  • Associate Professor, Shippensburg University
  • Ph.D. 2006

Meghan Duffy

  • Professor, University of Michigan
  • Ph.D. 2006

Brian Black

  • Instructor, Bay College
  • Ph.D. 2000

Karin Pfennig

  • Professor, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
  • Ph.D. 1999

Laura Zangori

  • Assistant Professor of Science Education, University of Missouri
  • M.S. 1995

Kevin Feldheim

  • A. Watson III Manager of the Pritzker Laboratory for Molecular Systematics and Evolution
  • The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
  • M.S. 1994

Postdocs

Ousseini Issaka Salia

  • Postdoc, Washington State University
  • 2020-2021

Sarah Fitzpatrick

  • Assistant Professor, KBS and MSU
  • 2015-2016 (co-advised with G. Mittelbach)

Annat Haber

  • BEACON Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow
  • 2013-2015 (co-advised with I. Dworkin).

M. Gabriela Bidart-Bouzat

  • Associate Professor, Bowling Green State University
  • 2004-2006 (NSF Minority Postdoctoral Fellow)

Jeremie Fant

  • Conservation Scientist , Chicago Botanic Garden
  • 2002-2003

Kari Lehtilä

  • Professor, Södertörn University College, Sweden
  • 1996-1998 (co-advised with S. Strauss)

Undergraduate Students

Former REUs currently in Ecology/Evolution

2022

2021

  • Nicholas Bhandari, Michigan State, poster, blog
  • Elijah Persson-Gordon, Michigan State, poster, blog
  • Lauren Norwood, UM Baltimore County, poster, blog

2020

  • Rachel Richardson, CSU Channel Islands, blog post

2019

  • Rachel Richardson, CSU Channel Islands, poster
  • Marisa Nufer, Michigan State, poster

2018

  • Cassie Stark, James Madison, poster, blog post
  • Samantha Turner, Michigan State, blog post
  • Sam McCarthy, Michigan State

2017

2015

  • Kola George, College of Charleston
  • Douglas (Alex) Page, NC Agricultural & Technical State

2013

  • Andre Hall, NC Agricultural & Technical State
  • Michayla Hunter, Jackson State
  • Marvin Osborne, NC Agricultural & Technical State

2012

  • Natalya Dungee, NC Agricultural & Technical State
  • Desmond Kilgo, NC Agricultural & Technical State
  • Victoreea Harris, Jackson State

2011

  • Toria Davis, Michigan State
  • Jasmine George, NC Agricultural & Technical State
  • Krystal Harrison, NC Agricultural & Technical State
  • Yasmin Partee, Jackson State
  • Shawn Szabo, Michigan State

2010

  • Emma Conner, Oberlin College
  • Laura Maihofer, Michigan State
  • Yasmin Partee, Jackson State
  • Stephen Williams, Oberlin College

2009

  • Brittany Daniels, Jackson State
  • Morgan Lucke, Michigan State
  • Latarsha Porcher, Oberlin College
  • Sam Slowinski, Oberlin College

2008

  • Elizabeth Olenzek, University of Michigan
  • Elizabeth Wright, Jackson State

2007

  • Tamika Shannon, Jackson State

Research Experiences for Teachers (RETs)

2018 & 2019

  • Ashley Carroll, GLMS

2015

  • Marcia Angle, Lawton M.S.
  • Cheryl Hach, KAMSC

2013

  • Cheryl Hach, KAMSC
  • Katie McKinley, Mattawan H. S.

2012

2011

  • Sandy Breitenbach, Plainwell H. S.
  • Marty Buehler, Hastings H. S.

2010

  • Sandy Breitenbach, Plainwell H. S.
  • Marty Green, Plainwell M. S.

2008

  • Debi Kilmartin, Gull Lake M. S.