University of Illinois Chicago

Grace Burgin is an evolutionary geneticist investigating molecular mechanisms of reproduction in flowering plants and their ecological and evolutionary consequences. Her work aims to unify plant mating system theory with practical applications for conservation of at-risk plant species. In 2025, Grace obtained her Ph.D. from the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.

Watch Grace: How Flowers Choose to Mate

Project Summary

Leveraging Mating System Theory for Targeted Conservation of Endangered Prairie Wildflowers

Habitat destruction has caused a rapid reduction in population size for many plant species. The likelihood of persistence following population decline is not the same for all species- plants using genetic mechanisms to prevent self-fertilization face unique extinction risks. My goal is to outline a broadly applicable conservation program for 1) identifying the genetic basis of mechanisms preventing self-fertilization and 2) translating that knowledge into management strategies. I will apply these tools to the endangered wildflower, Sangamon Phlox, a species that occurs only in small pockets of Illinois prairie remnants. Through this project, I will develop tools that can be used to protect at risk species in the Chicago region and beyond.