Principal Investigator
Kelly K.S. Matsunaga, Ph.D.
Thomas N. Taylor Asst. Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Asst. Curator of Paleobotany, Biodiversity Institute
University of Kansas
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I am a botanist who studies the fossil record and evolutionary history of plants. My interests are broad and include palms🌴, conifers🌲, lycopods, plant morphology/anatomy/development, and phylogenetics. Please feel free to contact me to find out more about our research, research opportunities in my lab, or if you have questions about our paleobotanical collections.
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Pronouns: she/her/hers
EDUCATION
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
2015 - 2019
University of Michigan
Ph.D. Earth & Environmental Sciences
2020 - present
Thomas N. Taylor Asst. Professor & Curator of Paleobotany
University of Kansas
2013 - 2014
Humboldt State University
M.S. Biology
2019 - 2020
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Chicago Botanic Garden
2007 - 2012
Humboldt State University
B.S. Botany
2019 - 2020
Research Affiliate
Field Museum of Natural History
KU Paleobotany Community
Lab Members
Kelly Pfeiler, M.S.
Ph.D. student
KU Self Fellow & NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Co-advised by Dr. Brian Atkinson​
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Research areas: Fossil record and evolution of Cupressaceae (cypress family)
Keana Tang, M.S.
Ph.D. Student
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Co-advised by Dr. Brian Atkinson
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Research areas: Fossil record and evolution of Lauraceae (laurel family)
Meg Nibbelink
Ph.D. Student
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Research areas: Evolution, diversification, and fossil record of lycopods
Austin Nguyen
Ph.D. Student
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
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Research areas: Evo-devo, developmental gene expression in conifers, conifer seed cone evolution
Ana
Andruchow-Colombo, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Research areas: Conifer diversity, phylogenetics, and fossil record
KU Paleobotany Community
Dr. Brian Atkinson
Asst. Professor & Curator of Paleobotany
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Biodiversity Institute
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Research areas: seed plants, conifers, core eudicots, Antarctica, Cretaceous & Mesozoic paleobotany, fruits, anatomy, and phylogenetics
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Dr. Rudolph Serbet
Collection Manager
Division of Paleobotany
Biodiveristy Institute
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As the Paleobotany collection manager, Rudy focuses on preservation, conservation, organization, and management of the paleobotanical collections, database entry and management, specimen preparation, student supervision and training, and lab supervision and management.​
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Research areas: Paleozoic and Mesozoic floras of Antarctica and North America, and early seed plant evolution