Meet our scientists

"Re-Search the Gardens" Science Brown Bag Lunch Series

Join us for our Research and Conservation science series for an in-depth look at the research we do to document and protect Colorado’s natural heritage.

Jennifer Ramp Neale, Ph.D.
Director of Research and Conservation
Jenny focuses on the applied research of plants in the Southern Rocky Mountain region with an emphassis on conservation genetics, long-term demographic monitoring, and restoration and reintroduction of Colorado’s most rare and imperiled plants. She works closely with local and national government and non-profit agencies to help protect Colorado’s rare plants.

Email:
nealejr@botanicgardens.org
Melissa Islam, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Research & Head Curator
Melissa's research explores questions about the diversity and ancestry of plants in the Southern Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world.

Email:
Melissa.Islam@botanicgardens.org
Rebecca Hufft Kao, Ph.D.
Manager of Conservation Programs
Rebecca supports the Gardens’ efforts to conserve Colorado’s rare plants by incorporating the ecology and demography of rare plant species and studies of biodiversity, invasive species and phenology into the conservation program.

Email:
Rebecca.Kao@botanicgardens.org
Michelle DePrenger-Levin, M.S.
Research Associate
Michelle uses the results of long-term demographics studies of Colorado’s rare, native plants to inform land managers on how to best conserve the unique and varied Colorado landscape.

Email:
deprengm@botanicgardens.org
Mary VB Goshorn, M.S.
Research Assistant
Mary is interested in a genetic approach to plant taxonomy, as well as the use of genetic analysis to evaluate diversity in populations of plants. At the Gardens, she pursues seed collection and genetic analyses of Colorado’s rare plant populations in addition to her assistance with demographic monitoring of rare plants.

Email:
Mary.Goshorn@botanicgardens.org
Vera Stucky Evenson, M.S.
Curator, Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi
Vera actively collects, documents, and vouchers specimens of Colorado’s native fungi with research interests in several genera of ascomycetes. In addition, Vera helps identify mushrooms for the Colorado Mycological Society and poison control centers and is author of the popular Mushrooms of Colorado and the Southern Rocky Mountains.

Email:
evensonv@botanicgardens.org
Janet L. Wingate, Ph.D.
Research Associate, Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium
Former curator of Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium, 1995-2007
Janet is interested in the native flora of Colorado, especially the Poaceae and Cyperaceae. She is presently researching for her book on the Carcies of Colorado. This book will be similar to her popular Illustrated Keys to the Grasses of Colorado.

Email:
wingatej@botanicgardens.org
Pam Regensberg, M.S.
Kathryn Kalmbach Curatorial Assistant
Pam's research is focused on understanding and conserving biodiversity. Her work provides valuable information of plant and fungal distributions through systematic and ongoing floristic research.

Email:
RegensbP@botanicgardens.org
Joe Statwick
Joe is studying rare members of the genus Astragalus in western Colorado. With a background in population genetics, field ecology, and geology, he's studying why some Astragalus specialize on unusual substrates and landforms, particularly seleniferous soils and steep canyon walls.