DOB is currently holding an election for our next Chair-Elect. Please see below for details, and VOTE HERE before November 24!
Gearing up for Austin
Your SICB Division of Botany officers are gearing up for Austin! DoB had 16 abstracts submitted, 11 of which were student-led! We’re so excited to see what our members have been up to in the year since our last meeting. Stay tuned for more information about social plans for the meeting!
Find us on Twitter!
Hi everyone! I’m Bryan MacNeill, the DoB SPDAC representative! I am taking over the SPDAC Twitter for September and October. I will be tweeting about job opportunities, ECR posts, and general SICB Stuff. My goal with taking over Twitter is to make more people aware of SICB’s botany division and highlight our ECRs. Follow along @SICB_SPDAC and @SICB_DOB
Candidate for Chair-Elect
DoB is running a special election for Chair-Elect. Read more about our candidate below! Please visit the ballot HERE.
Dr. Cody Coyotee Howard
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Biology, Ecology, and Evolution at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
Education: Ph.D. Botany, University of Florida (2020); B.Sc. Horticulture Science, University of Arkansas (2009)
Professional Experience: Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA (2020 – 2022); Conservation Technician at Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, CA, USA (2009 – 2014).
SICB Activities: Rising Star in Organismal Botany finalist (2019)
Other Memberships: Member of Cactus & Succulent Society of America, Botanical Society of America.
Research Interests: My research broadly centers on understanding the processes that lead to the convergent and repeated evolution of traits. My research combines phylogenetics, ecology, and morphology to understand plant evolution. I am especially fascinated by the many ways that plants have evolved belowground bud placement (e.g., geophytism), a geographically, morphologically, and phylogenetically diverse habit.
Goals Statement: Throughout my academic career, I had repeatedly heard of the annual SICB conference and all the amazing opportunities and support it provided for undergraduate and graduate students as well as early career researchers (ECRs). These praises mostly originated from more animal-focused researchers, however, so it was difficult for me to see myself as a part of SICB. That’s why in 2019 when I learned that a Division of Botany (DOB) was being established, it was no question that I wanted to get involved. I was given the opportunity to participate in my first-ever SICB conference through the Rising Star in Organismal Botany symposium, and I have been a fan of SICB since. Moving forward, I want to continue to promote the work of students and ECRs and ensure that all are given adequate support to showcase their awesome selves and research within an inclusive and welcoming environment. I would also like to develop symposia that not only emphasize outstanding botany-related research but also integrate across the enormous diversity of biological disciplines that are represented at SICB. Related, along with other SICB leadership, I would like to organize more networking opportunities that promote interdisciplinary collaborations across SICB members, with botany as a focus. I am excited for the opportunity to serve as DOB Chair-Elect and I look forward to seeing everyone in Austin!