The Plant Evolution, Paleobotany, and Paleoecology Research (PEPPR) Lab run by Prof. Selena Smith studies the paleobiology of plants, including their evolution and their link to climate and environment on broad timescales. We use both modern and fossil plants, and a variety of tools including phytoliths, stable isotopes, tomography, and anatomy to address questions relating to systematics, evolution, ecology, and the Earth-Life system.

I am looking for one graduate student to start Fall 2025 to work on anatomically preserved Cretaceous plants. If you’re interested please reach out, especially if you have experience in plant structure and anatomy, and systematics/phylogenetics skills. Interested undergraduates are always invited to get in touch.