Profile

• Time Zone

  Central

  
  
• Organization

  University of Minnesota

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I study the separation of one plant species into two species (speciation) and how it can be driven by different types of plant reproduction. Some plants mostly mate with other plants to make seeds, a process which is often aided by an animal pollinator, whereas other plants more often self-pollinate, eliminating the need for other plants to mate with and the need for pollinators.
  
  My research focuses on two subspecies of the California wildflower farewell-to-spring (Clarkia). One subspecies is pollinated by several types of small native bees, and the other subspecies is mainly self-pollinated. I am studying how the two subspecies are evolving in response to one another in areas where the two grow together on the same hillsides. I am also interested in whether the two subspecies hybridize with each other, and if they do, how that affects their evolution.
  
  As an undergraduate, I studied the genetic cause of flower color differences in monkeyflowers (Mimulus). I am also interested more generally in the relationships between plants and their pollinators and how those relationships drive plant evolution, and in the effects of hybridization between plant species.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):

  I think yuccas are amazing! In addition to being very unusual looking and attention grabbing, they have a very unusual pollination system. The moths that pollinate yuccas also parasitize the yucca's seed pods. The two species have to balance between the moths eating too many seeds and the yuccas not getting pollinated.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What is best about being a scientist?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):

  I am surrounded by people who are learning things no one previously knew about every single day. I love hearing about other people's work and talking and writing about mine.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is tough about being a scientist?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

  I do my field experiments in southern California, and although the landscape is beautiful, it is HOT! I have always lived in the northern part of the US, so doing physically challenging work outdoors in the California summer is a bit of an adjustment.

  
  
• Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

  2

  
  

Recent Posts

Team table Brooke Kern Oct 21, 2022

Hi everyone! I'm glad to hear your ferns are growing. What has the teacher told you about what you will learn from this project? Have you talked about ferns and their life cycles?

Team table Brooke Kern Oct 12, 2022

Hi everyone! My name is Brooke and I am your scientist mentor for this project. 

I am currently working on my doctorate degree (PhD) at the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul. I study the evolution of flowers and the role of flowers…

more

Hi everyone! My name is Brooke and I am your scientist mentor for this project. 

I am currently working on my doctorate degree (PhD) at the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul. I study the evolution of flowers and the role of flowers and pollination in speciation (the separation of one species into two separate species over time). I use a California wildflower called Clarkia xantiana to explore these topics (it's worth google imaging--it's a beautiful plant). 

I'm looking forward to working with you on your project!

shscasesweeneyspring2022 project 15 Brooke Kern Apr 26, 2022

Hi everyone! How is your project going? What have you been working on?