Jessica Budke 🌱🥼🔬

@mossplants.bsky.social

1334 Followers 994 Following

Associate Professor @UTK_EEB & Director @UTKHerbarium | Plant development, physiology, systematics, & evolution | Member @UCWCWA | Opinions are my own

Person in front of a mountain
Student in the tropical forest surrounded by plants.
Fanya Yuan holding plants.
Flora Quest. Exploring Plant Diversity (Grades 7-8, rising) Embark on an exciting journey of discovery as we explore the amazing diversity of plants all around us. In this hands-on class, you'll visit a greenhouse, explore the dry pressed plants at the herbarium, and take walks around campus to learn about the fascinating plants that surround us every day. As part of the class, you'll create your own mini plant collection, with the opportunity to contribute your best specimens to the UT Herbarium. Along the way, you'll deepen your understanding of the diverse world of plants and grow your appreciation for the natural world. This camp is supported by a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (DEB-2046467).
Dive deep in a two-week, May mini-term course, with a hands-on learning experience focusing on Fieldwork and molecular biology research using plant natural history collections. EEB 466: Immersion in Collections Research
Line drawing of coffee plant.
Recruiting an NSF-funded Post-Doctoral Researcher in EEB The Budke Lab in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee (http://jmbudke.github.io/) is seeking a Post-Doctoral Research Associate to work on an NSF-funded project. This project is investigating morphological evolution in a phylogenetic context using moss plants as the experimental system. The research responsibilities will include (1) assembling morphological datasets using the literature and herbarium specimens, (2) compiling DNA sequence datasets from publicly available resources and laboratory-based methods using herbarium specimens, and (3) combining these data to analyze the evolution of morphological structures across a phylogeny. Opportunities will also be available to develop novel research questions focusing on the functional morphology, physiology, and evolution of the parent-offspring relationship in mosses. Supervising and mentoring undergraduate researchers in both the laboratory and herbarium will be required. An additional aim of this project is to build awareness of and appreciation for plants and botanical natural history collections. As part of the team, the postdoc will participate in hands-on outreach events, such as Darwin Day. The postdoc will also co-lead a May-term course for undergraduate students on collections-based research. Apply by 17 August 2025 for full consideration.
Photo of ABLS logo embroidered on a gray hat. We are selling ABLS hats as a fundraiser to raise money for student travel awards to our annual conference. Place your order before August 17th to get your own ABLS hat. You can access the fundraiser via the link or QR code below. https://www.customink.com/fundraising/show-your-love-for-bryophytes-lichens Thank you to everyone who attended the ABLS annual meeting at the BOTANY conference. It was great to see you all and I look forward to seeing you at the ABLS meeting that will be held with BOTANY next year in Tucson, Arizona, US on August 1-5, 2026.
The Budke Lab in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee (http://jmbudke.github.io/) is seeking a Post-Doctoral Research Associate to work on an NSF-funded project. This project is investigating morphological evolution in a phylogenetic context using moss plants as the experimental system. The research responsibilities will include (1) assembling morphological datasets using the literature and herbarium specimens, (2) compiling DNA sequence datasets from publicly available resources and laboratory-based methods using herbarium specimens, and (3) combining these data to analyze the evolution of morphological structures across a phylogeny. Opportunities will also be available to develop novel research questions focusing on the functional morphology, physiology, and evolution of the parent-offspring relationship in mosses. Supervising and mentoring undergraduate researchers in both the laboratory and herbarium will be required. An additional aim of this project is to build awareness of and appreciation for plants and botanical natural history collections. As part of the team, the postdoc will participate in hands-on outreach events, such as Darwin Day. The postdoc will also co-lead a May-term course for undergraduate students on collections-based research. Apply by 17 August 2025 for full consideration.
Fog and red ceramic mugs
Tiny strap shaped tropical fern
Beer and cocktail in front of beach.
Nevis Peak
Screen shot of this website http://jmbudke.github.io Our research focuses on the development, evolution, and function of plant structures. We study morphological features that are used to distinguish species taxonomically and those that are important for reproduction and fitness. Some of the tools we use to address our research questions are natural history collections, molecular systematic techniques, electron microscopy, and manipulation experiments. Interested in joining the lab? We are recruiting graduate students for the December 2024 application deadline. If our lab seems like it might be a good fit for you, please send an email expressing your interest with your CV/resume and unofficial transcripts attached to Dr. Jessica Budke jbudke@utk.edu
EEB 466 - Immersion in Natural History Collections Research: Hands-on Skills in Fieldwork and Molecular Biology University of Tennessee – Knoxville - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology This three-week, miniterm course will enable students to dive deep into an immersive, hands-on learning experience focusing on fieldwork and molecular biology research using plant natural history collections. At the end of this course, students will gain skills in plant identification, DNA sequence data generation, herbarium specimen collection, functional plant morphology, and analyses of morphological evolution. The skills students gain will enhance their ability to succeed in scientific research careers, such as field biology, natural history collections, and molecular biology. This course is sponsored by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Scholarships are available for students with demonstrated financial need to help offset the registration and housing costs for this 3-credit course.
Coffee with a Curator logo of a coffee plant drawing.
Photo of students in the field.
Student pressing plants
Image of the table of contents of the front page of the newsletter.
Carved halloween pumpkins on the porch.
Carved Halloween pumpkins.
People hiking
Pottery
Bottom of a pottery bowl and pile of clay.