News
Thu, 03/21/2024
Red Hot Graduate Research: Friday, March 22, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Watson Library, 3 West (Opens in new window)
EEB and the BI research highlighted once again at Red Hot Research! Plan to attend to see EEB's Keana Tang present. Red Hot Graduate Research introduces KU scholars to the work of their colleagues; prompts questions within current research through the perspectives of many disciplines; and develops collaborative research teams as a result of overlapping interest & expertise.
Wed, 03/06/2024
Tang receives MAGS Distinguished Thesis Award
Keana Tang, PhD Candidate and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow with the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at KU, has been awarded the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Distinguished Thesis Award for the Biological Sciences. The award recognizes and rewards the recipient’s distinguished scholarship and research. Tang will receive an honorarium of $750 from MAGS, plus $500 toward travel expenses to attend the MAGS annual meeting.
Thu, 02/29/2024
KU students to present at Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol
KU students will join their peers from other Kansas Board of Regents public four-year universities to deliver in-person poster presentations March 1 at the Kansas Capitol Rotunda in Topeka.
Wed, 02/28/2024
Red Hot Research: 4-5:30 PM Friday, March 1 (Opens in new window)
Red Hot Research introduces researchers to the work of their colleagues; prompts questions within current research through the perspectives of many disciplines; and develops collaborative research teams as a result of overlapping interest & expertise. The event takes place Friday, March 1, 2024, from 4-5:30 PM at Watson Library, 3 West. One of this week’s presenters includes Kelly Matsunaga, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and Biodiversity Institute.
Tue, 02/27/2024
2024 Digital Data in Biodiversity Research Conference at KU May 20–31 (Opens in new window)
iDigBio, the Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSCA), and The University of Kansas's Biodiversity Research Institute are delighted to announce the 2024 Digital Data in Biodiversity Research Conference, 29-31 May, with this edition of the conference again offering both in-person and virtual participation. The overall theme for the 2024 conference will be Synthesizing & Harmonizing Data for Integrated Biodiversity Research.
Wed, 01/31/2024
EEB’s Katya Mack featured in UC Berkeley’s Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Newsletter (Opens in new window)
The publication “Gene regulation helps species thrive in new climates” is highlighted in the Winter 2024 edition.
Thu, 01/25/2024
Timm receives Jackson Award for Outstanding Service (Opens in new window)
The American Society of Mammalogists recognizes Dr. Robert M. Timm, professor emeritus, as the 2023 recipient of the Hartley H. T. Jackson Award. Timm joined the KU Natural History Museum as curator-in-charge of mammals in 1986 and as a faculty member in the Department of Systematics and Ecology, and went on to serve in a variety of roles while at KU. His research has focused on ecology, evolution, and in recent years conservation of mammals, and in host–parasite interactions.
Tue, 01/23/2024
55 students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for spring 2024
UGRA recipients are awarded a $1,000 scholarship as they work on mentored research and creative projects. Students apply for UGRAs by writing a four-page research proposal under the guidance of a mentor. Faculty reviewers evaluate the applications based on the merit of the applicant’s proposal and a recommendation from the mentor.
Tue, 01/23/2024
KU KUDOS: Jayhawk Faculty and Staff Achievements, January 2024 (Opens in new window)
Congrats! Liz Koziol, assistant research professor for the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research, was awarded the Women in Science Incentive Prize from The Story Exchange. Her Startup Aims to Revolutionize Soil Health (thestoryexchange.org)
Mon, 01/22/2024
VIDEO: KU Field Station researchers use fire to protect the forest (Opens in new window)
Staff from the KU Field Station and the Kansas Forest Service worked together last autumn to conduct a prescribed burn of the Rice Woodland tract of the Baldwin Woods Forest Preserve outside of Lawrence. Though it seems destructive, this process allows native plant life to thrive by controlling invasive plant species in the forest — and preventing spontaneous wildfires throughout the rest of the year.
Wed, 01/17/2024
APPLY NOW! Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Applications Due Feb. 28 (Opens in new window)
The University of Kansas Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology/Kansas Biological Survey is recruiting students to participate in Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) opportunity in Summer 2024. The REU opportunities are part of the New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute, a National Science Foundation funded initiative whose overarching focus is how plant organismal systems (plant roots and shoots) relate to one another and how those relationships influence and are influenced by plant communities and the soil ecosphere.
Fri, 01/12/2024
Age-dependent extinction and the neutral theory of biodiversity (Opens in new window)
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) features article from James G. Saulsbury, postdoctoral researcher in EEB and the Biodiversity Institute. Like people, species have lifespans: they originate at some time, get older, and eventually go extinct. This new work shows that a simple and well-known model in ecology, known as neutral theory, can account for the “lifespans” or durations of species in the fossil record.
Thu, 01/11/2024
Drs. Jorge Soberon and Town Peterson are named Distinguished Fellows of the International Biogeography Society!
University Distinguished Professors in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Town Peterson and Jorge Soberón, who is also director of the KU Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum, have been named 2024 International Biogeography Society Distinguished Fellows. Fellows are chosen for their significant contributions to the society’s objectives via “brilliance in basic research and great service to the area of biogeography.” IBS Distinguished Fellow Award – International Biogeography Society
Tue, 12/19/2023
Research offers a reason why diversity in plant species causes higher farming yield, solving ‘a bit of a mystery’
A study appearing in Nature Communications based on field and greenhouse experiments at the University of Kansas shows how a boost in agricultural yield comes from planting diverse crops rather than just one plant species: Soil pathogens harmful to plants have a harder time thriving.
Mon, 12/11/2023
Ecology and evolutionary biology professor receives NSF Career Award
LAWRENCE – Kelly Matsunaga, assistant curator of paleobotany and Thomas N. Taylor Assistant Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, has received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation. ...
Mon, 12/04/2023
Curator Kelly Matsunaga receives NSF Career Award
Assistant curator of paleobotany at the Biodiversity Institute and Thomas N. Taylor assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, Kelly Matsunaga, has been awarded a CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation. The CAREER is a 5-year grant. Total award amount is $946,323. The project will investigate how the widespread and ancient group of plants known as conifers (examples: pines, junipers, redwoods) evolved over the last 300 million years in response to a changing planet. "We will integrate information from living species and the extensive fossil record of the group to reconstruct evolutionary relationships, investigate evolutionary dynamics through time, and test hypotheses on the evolution of conifer reproductive organs," Matsunaga said. "As part of the project, I will offer a new research-based course on plant anatomy and development, and create a new permanent exhibit in the KU Natural History Museum."
Thu, 11/30/2023
University Teaching Awards (Opens in new window)
Chancellor Girod hosted the University Teaching Awards on Nov. 7 in the Big 12 Room of the Kansas Union. You can watch the ceremony and clip of Trevor Rivers receiving his award. Rivers, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology assistant teaching professor, received the Bob & Kathie Taylor Excellence in Teaching Award.
Thu, 11/09/2023
Rafe Brown is inaugural recipient of KUIA Advisory Board International Research Award
Thu, 11/02/2023
Kristen Baum will lead Monarch Watch
LAWRENCE — Monarch Watch, an international program at the University of Kansas dedicated to the conservation and study of monarch butterflies, has a new director. Kristen Baum, well known for her work on monarchs and pollinators, began this week as director of Monarch Watch and as a senior scientist at...
Thu, 10/26/2023
Bruce Lieberman receives 2023 David Shulenburger Award for Innovation & Advocacy in Scholarly Communication (Opens in new window)
The Shulenburger Award recognizes KU faculty, staff, students and academic departments who champion open access and innovation in scholarly communication. Lieberman was chosen as a recipient for his efforts to convert a prestigious and extensive subscription-based journal into a broadly accessible open access resource.
Mon, 10/23/2023
Research shows climate change boosts likelihood of toxin releases from algal blooms in American lakes
Wed, 10/18/2023
KU BIOLOGY HOMECOMING TAILGATE OCTOBER 28: FREE BREAKFAST FOOD & DRINK (Opens in new window)
Join KU Biology for a Homecoming Tailgate Saturday, October 28 at 9:00 AM! Location: Natural History Museum Lawn, Dyche Hall. Time: 9:00 AM (Game at 11:00 AM). Students, Alumni, Faculty & Staff are all invited to attend this free event put on by the Undergraduate Biology Program, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology & Department of Molecular Biosciences. Please RSVP!
Wed, 10/18/2023
KU Field Station plans prescribed burn in Baldwin Woods (Opens in new window)
The prescribed burn in the Baldwin Woods Forest Preserve is a traditional management tool for woodlands, needed to control encroaching invasive plant species. KU Field Station staff will conduct the burn in partnership with Kansas Forest Service. The burn will take place the week of Oct. 23-27.
Tue, 10/17/2023
Call for nominations for 2024 research awards: Due by Nov. 1 (Opens in new window)
Recommend a colleague for awards recognizing excellence among faculty, staff and postdoctoral researchers. Nominations are open for Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards, the Steven F. Warren Research Achievement Award and other KU research achievement awards. Winners are recognized in the spring.
Thu, 10/12/2023
Check out the new article in PLOS Biology (Opens in new window)
“A few essential genetic loci distinguish Penstemon species with flowers adapted to pollination by bees or hummingbirds.” This new study published in September shows that specific variations in the attributes of wildflowers, depending on their pollinators, can be attributed to a certain number of key genetic distinctions. Ultimately, these wildflowers have evolved to cater to specific animal pollinators. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology’s Lena Hileman, John Kelly, and Amanda Katzer are part of this study and recent publication.
Thu, 10/12/2023
Celebrate National Fossil Day at NHM on Sunday Oct. 15 (Opens in new window)
Explore the diversity of life preserved in the fossil record with KU researchers and students. Learn about global change through time, hear about KU paleontology fieldwork and try fun hands-on learning activities for all ages. Event takes place 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday Oct. 15 at the National History Museum.
Tue, 10/10/2023
Show Your Support for the EEB GSO Fundraiser (Opens in new window)
The KU Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Graduate Student Organization (EEB GSO) have once again partnered with KU Endowment to put on their largest fundraising effort of the year, the LaunchKU online crowdfunding initiative (formerly known as Ever Onward). This campaign supports EEB GSO student travel awards, research support, and science outreach programming. This year’s campaign is now in full swing, and will continue to run from Tuesday, October 10, to Friday, November 10.
Mon, 10/09/2023
Lunch & Learn Oct. 11: You’re Invited
All are welcome and the food is a first come, first serve basis.
KU Indigenous Scholars Annalise Guthrie, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and Kelly Beym, Geography & Atmospheric Science, are preparing for the 2023 AISES National Conference Graduate Oral Presentations. The event takes place Wednesday, October 11th at 12:00 PM in the OMA Classroom. Each student will have 20 minutes to present and answer questions.
If you have any questions, please contact rockchalk.aises@gmail.com.
Fri, 10/06/2023
Celebrate ‘Coretoberfest’ with the Office of Research (Opens in new window)
How well do you know KU core labs? Come to Coretoberfest from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 12. to learn how these facilities and the experts who lead them can support your research. The event at the Burge Union includes door prizes, networking, appetizers and drinks. RSVP online.