California Academy of Sciences
By Karyn Houston
Plant & Microbial Biology
Chelsea Specht, an associate professor of PMB, has been named a fellow of the California Academy of Sciences. The Fellows of the California Academy of Sciences are distinguished scientists, appointed in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the natural sciences. They help extend the impact of the Academy in its missions associated with research, public engagement, and education.
In addition to her role as associate professor in PMB, Specht is curator of monocots at the University and Jepson Herbaria. Her research focuses on the investigation of plant form and function, using traditional morphological and developmental techniques combined with molecular genetics, comparative genomics and evolutionary biology to study the natural diversity of plants.
The goal of her research is to help better understand the forces creating and sustaining plant diversity.
Specht incorporates elements of systematics, developmental genetics and molecular evolution to study the patterns and processes associated with plant speciation and diversification. She and her lab are part of the Berkeley Natural History Museums (including the UC/Jepson Herbaria and the UC Botanical Garden) and take advantage of living and preserved collections to advance research in plant evolutionary biology.
Dr. Specht will be inducted into the Academy at the annual meeting in October.
Important Links:
Berkeley Natural History Museums
UC/Jepson Herbaria
UC Botanical Garden
California Academy of Sciences
spechtlab.berkeley.edu