Research interests

Our primary research interests are in organismal evolution and phylogenetics of angiosperms. We have particular interests in the comparative analysis of floral structure and function, both of extant and of fossil angiosperms, the study of floral ontogeny, and the analysis of character evolution in a phylogenetic framework. We integrate results from comparative morphology, palaeobotany, and molecular phylogenetics in order to shed light onto the early evolution and diversification of the angiosperms and their flowers. Systematically, our current research focuses on the order Ericales. However, we am involved in a series of research projects in other phylogenetic lineages including Acanthaceae, Araceae, Malvaceae, Melastomataceae, and Orchidaceae). Three topics that we have become interested only more recently and that we hope to develop further in the coming years include pollination biology (particularly in the tropics), novel technical approaches to the study of floral structure (High Resolution X-Ray Computed Tomography) and modern theoretical approaches (morphospace analysis) for the analysis of plant evolution and diversity.

Projects

• The eFLOWER initiative: A framework for understanding the evolution and diversification of flowers
• Development of novel applications of x-ray computed tomography in plant science
• Floral evolution and diversification in the light of morphospace analyses (FWF-Project: P 25077-B16)
• Floral diversity and evolutionary history of Ericales
• Pollinator shifts and floral Evolution in the Merianieae (Melastomataceae) (FWF-Project: P 30669-B29)

 Teaching

Current Courses

 Cooperations

• Stockholm Universität, Schweden
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
• Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden, California, USA

 Curriculum Vitae

Current position

• 2009– Professor in Structural Botany

Education and scientific career

• 2004–2009 Lecturer in Plant Systematics, Department of Botany, Stockholm University, Sweden
• 2007 Docent in Plant Systematics, Stockholm University, Sweden
• 2002–2004 Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
  Funded through a fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation
• 2000–2002 Institute of Systematic Botany, University of Zurich, Switzerland
• 1998–2000 Department of Palaeobotany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
• 1998 Dr. phil. (PhD) in Systematic Botany, University of Zurich, Switzerland
• 1994 Diplom (MSc) in Systematic Botany, University of Zurich, Switzerland