Research
Diversification of South American Agalinis
For my postdoc, Dr. Maribeth Latvis and I will focus on Agalinis (Orobanchaceae). This genus displays an intriguing biogeographic history: it migrated from North America to South America, where it rapidly diversified, in the Andes and in Brazil. Additionally, all species are hemiparasitic, which makes them a super interesting system! We are right now investigating the biogeographic history of the group and investigating the role of pollination syndrome and life history transitions in the diversifciation of the group. We are also generating a high-quality reference genome for the group and conducted fieldwork in Brazil in 2025 to sample species from campos rupestres! Cool projects are on the way so stay tuned ☺️
Collaborators (in alphabetical order): Maribeth Latvis
Hybridization and Diversification of Petunia
During my Ph.D., under the guidance of Dr. Loreta Brandão de Freitas, my research focused on the effects of interspecific hybridization on the diversification of Petunia. It has become clear that hybridization plays a significant role in plant evolution, and Petunia provides a unique opportunity to understand how this phenomenon has impacted the diversification of a characteristic and charismatic group in the southern South American grasslands. In my dissertation, we used genomic, morphological, and geographical data to understand the adaptive radiation process of the group, the weak reproductive barriers between species, and both past and ongoing hybridization events. I had the opportunity to work on part of my Ph.D. with Dr. Stacey Smith at the University of Colorado Boulder, where I used transcriptomic data to understand the evolutionary process of Petunia and its related genera, Calibrachoa and Fabiana, taking into account gene flow between different species.
Collaborators (in alphabetical order): Alice Backes, Aureliano Bombarely, Caroline Turchetto, Giovanna C. Giudicelli, Leonardo T. Gonçalves, Loreta B. Freitas, Lucas C. Wheeler, Sebastián Guzmán-Rodriguez, and Stacey D. Smith.
Chromosomal evolution within the Petunia-Calibrachoa-Fabiana clade
I was honored to receive the Godfrey Hewitt Mobility Award in 2023 to investigate the chromosome evolution of Petunia, Calibrachoa, and Fabiana. While the basic chromosome numbers for each genus are known, the project’s primary objective was to investigate how these numbers have changed over time. Additionally, we aimed to provide valuable insights into the clade’s evolutionary history, establishing connections to the speciation process, current hybridization capabilities, and the development of ancient reproductive barriers. This research was carried out in collaboration with Dr. Rocio Deanna and Dr. Juan D. Urdampilleta, both affiliated with CONICET-UNC in Argentina.