the higgledy piggledy lab

to better understand the origin and maintenance of species, and the variation within and among them, we combine theory and experiment, molecular and transmission genetics, as well as comparative and meta-analyses.

our  research focuses on plant speciation and the roles of hybridization, adaptation, divergence, conflict, competition, mating system evolution, and geographic isolation in generating and maintaining plant diversity.

we aim to integrate these questions and approaches in a diverse collection of emerging model systems with awesome biology and some genomic resources. we are currently working with mimulus, capsella, helianthus, and silphium and [potential] students, postdocs and collaborators are encouraged to propose taxa best suited to their interest.

the brandvain lab is a proud member of the department of plant biology at the university of minnesota – twin cities. We are also members of evolTWIN – evolutionary biologists in the twin cities.