My research focuses on using genetic approaches to understand the evolutionary and ecological causes and consequences of rarity in endangered plant species. My research combines the fields of population genetics, genomics, ecological/quantitative genetics, phylogeography, and plant systematics to understand the biology of rare species. My main research interests specifically focus on the following areas: 1) using genetic data to help understand the ecology and reproductive biology of endangered plants, 2) using genetic analysis of ex-situ collections to aid in applied conservation and restoration efforts, 3) understanding the relationship between geographic range size and levels of genetic diversity in lineages with rare and widespread plant species and identifying the factors affecting levels of genetic diversity of rare species, 4) elucidating patterns of evolutionary history and species boundaries in closely related species complexes containing endangered plant species, and 5) understanding phenotypic plasticity, the potential for adaptive evolution, and the genetic architecture of phenotypic traits of plants in response to environmental stress/variation. The overall goal of this research to use genetic data to help conserve rare plants more effectively.