Research Interests: 

• The epigenetic basis of transgenerational inheritance: Utilizing whole genome bisulfite and transcriptome sequencing I am looking into the plasticity of the methylome, the transcriptional response to this, and the ability for these changes to be passed between generations.

• Transgenerational fitness effects in nature: Recently discovered epigenetic mechanisms have provided a framework through which environmentally altered molecules transmit regulatory information between generations. While we know that this regulatory information leads to both gene expression and phenotypic changes in the progeny, the question remains as to whether these changes provide fitness benefits to progeny grown in similar conditions.  Using a modified common garden I am interested in testing whether individuals grown in the same site as their parents out-perorm genetiocally (nearly) identical individuals grown under different conditions.  

• Natural variation in defense traits and their plasticity: Trichomes have long been a trait of interest in the Kelly lab, and within the Mimulus community as a whole. While much is known about trichome plasticity and variation within a set of recombinant inbred lines, very little work has been done to examine plasticity, variation, and the role of trichomes in nature.  Within this research goal I am utilizing fifteen natural populations to test hypotheses regarding the above understudied unknowns regarding trichomes in Mimulus.

• Long-term evolutionary dynamics in hybrid populations: Exploiting a unique habitat containing a hybrid swarm of Mimulus individuals I am interested in measuring phenotypic and concomitant genotypic changes across space and time.  Of particular interest at this site is the genetic basis and fitness effects found in variable life history morphs.