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



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
- Mackenzie Caple, Ph.D. student, Indiana University
- Dr. Tyler Bassett, Botanist, Michigan Natural Features Inventory
- Dr. Emi Fergus, Postdoctoral research associate, EPA
- Dr. Amber Rice, Assistant Professor, Lehigh University
- Dr. Sam Slowinski, Postdoctoral researcher, U Maryland
- Dr. Jay Sobel, Assistant Professor, Binghamton University
- Dr. Jennifer Tate, Associate Professor, Massey University, NZ
- Dr. Jennifer Williams, Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
2022
- Shoshannah Blasczak, Suffolk County Community College, poster
- Tori Nicholes, Shepherd, poster, newspaper article
- Sally Song, Wellesley, poster
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
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
- Marty Buehler, Hastings H. S.
- Katie McKinley, Mattawan H. S.
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.