Dr. Kaproth's Research Projects
The Kaproth Lab investigates how plant species adapt and spread across environments.
We tend to focus on oaks as a model system - which are the most diverse and abundant woody genera in North America. Past work shows these North American species diversified from a common ancestor and converged on drought adaptataion patterns.
These systems allow us to investigate fundamental ecological processes driving species success and providing practical applications for species management. I am especially interested in focusing on plant drought tolerance, functional trait adaptation or invasive species biology. My lab uses common gardens, herbarium collections, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), along with lab and field measurements to investigate the evolution of stress tolerance (and suites of additional traits) across the Americas.
The Kaproth Lab works with a team of collaborators. We have conducted systematics and demographic studies in widespread plant systems (oaks, Quercus), rare plant systems (prairie) and invasive plant systems (such as reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea and tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima).
Areas of interest:
- Botany / Ecology / Ecophysiology
- Systematics / Trait variation and adaptation / Drought tolerance
- Invasive species
- Plant conservation / Prairies / Savanna
- Population biology / Dispersal
- Environmental science
- Remote sensing / GIS
- Environmental policy
Lab MEMBERS aND CURRENT PROJECTS
Recruitment:
For Fall 2024, I may be looking for *exceptional* MS graduate students to work on oak/prairie functional trait and diversity projects. Students must be *highly motivated* and have a strong interest in plant ecology (projects can include investigations in evolution and ecophysiology with a focus on GIS, statistics/analysis, and biodiversity conservation) using lab and/or field work. These projects can fit within model systems in the evolution of stress tolerance developed with a group of collaborators across the Americas and Europe.
The research may be conducted at local field sites (e.g. in Minnesota), across the US, as well as in greenhouses. The academic portion of the degree will take place at Minnesota State University, Mankato. To conduct research, you may need to coordinate undergraduate student assistants, be able to drive, and/or work in adverse (hot) conditions.
Caveat: I don’t expect you to know exactly what project you want to research, but you should be driven to investigate ecological or plant systematics/conservation questions.
If interested in joining the lab for a MS DEGREE, please email me the following:
- A letter of interest that tells me about your research interests, background, types of questions you are interested in, etc.;
- An unofficial university transcript (your undergraduate GPA should be >3.0);
- Outstanding communication and writing skills;
- Your CV (including the contact information for a reference);
- Anything else that you think makes you uniquely qualified for the position
Here’s a part of what I can contribute:
- Attentive mentorship and career development;
- Training in plant systematics, biostatistics, plant biology/ecology, ecophysiology and experimental design;
- Teaching opportunities (Teach Assistantship with stipend and tuition waiver);
- Summer and supplemental support during school breaks may be possible (projects would need to be funded or base on herbarium curation);
- Contacts in academia and with regional partners (Dept. of Natural Resources, the University of Minnesota, The Prairie Enthusiasts, Morton Arboretum, etc.)
- An ally and an environment that encourages a healthy work-life balance (i.e. gentle reminders of ways to thrive as a grad student)
