Research in the Friedman Lab spans a range of topics in plant evolution and ecological genetics. We study the evolution of reproductive strategies, and aim to understand the influence of ecological factors like climate, abiotic conditions, pollinators and demography. We are interested in how these ecological and evolutionary patterns are shaped by their underlying genetics, including both quantitative and population genetics. Research in the lab uses an integrative approach, including some combination of field work, manipulative experiments, quantitative and population genetics, genomics, comparative biology and theory.
Current projects address these issues in the context of transitions between annual and perennial life history strategies, sexual selection and mating system evolution, and transitions between animal and wind pollination.


