Biological Sciences, Department of
Kirsten Fisher
Full-time Faculty
Office: 393 ASC
Phone: (323) 343-2089
FAX: (323) 343-6451
E-mail: kfisher2@calstatela.edu
| Office Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday | |
| Tuesday | |
| Wednesday | |
| Thursday | |
| Friday | 10:00-11:30 |
| Saturday | |
INTRODUCTION
I came to CSULA in the fall of 2008 as an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. I was born and raised in California and am delighted to have the opportunity to teach in the CSU system.
TEACHING INTERESTS
I teach BIOL 360, General Ecology, as well as BIOL 440, Taxonomy of Angiosperms (flowering plants). I am also interested in teaching courses in medical ethnobotany, plant diversity, and scientific writing.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research interests include plant molecular systematics, phylogeography, and the use of phylogenetic trees for exploring evolutionary questions in general. In particular, I am interested in applying molecular phylogenetic methods to understanding cryptic diversity in mosses, and the potential link between physiological specialization and cryptic diversification in this group of plants. My past research focused on the complex trait of desiccation tolerance, and the functional evolution of some of the key gene families involved in this trait. Desiccation tolerance is the remarkable ability to suspend metabolic activity and survive near complete loss of cellular water. Desiccation tolerance is relatively common in the mosses, but it is only present in the seeds and pollen in most flowering plants. The genetic and molecular basis of desiccation tolerance in mosses has garnered great interest in the field of agricultural biotechnology, as this trait has important implications for the improvement of economically important crop plants in the context of global aridification and climate change. In my lab, I plan to investigate the relationship between the extent of desiccation tolerance and sequence variation in a desiccation tolerance candidate gene, Tr288, within populations of the moss Syntrichia ruralis.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Ph.D. Integrative Biology May, 2004
- University of California, Berkeley
BA Biology May, 1996
- University of California, Santa Cruz
COURSE LIST
| Course | Course Title | Day & Time | Quarter | Room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 454-01 | Medical Ethnobotany | TR 8:00 - 9:15 AM | Fall 2009 | BS 335 |
| BIOL360-01 | General Ecology | MW 1:30 - 2:45 PM | Winter 2009 | BIOS 335 |