The National Science Foundation has awarded a biologist and specialist in evolution, computational biology, and phylogenetics at Southeastern Louisiana University a grant of $1,125,000.
Phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relationships among biological entities – often species, individuals or genes.
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences April Wright received the five-year grant to integrate information from the fossil record with data collected from living species to infer phylogenetic relationships. The grant was one of only two CAREER grants awarded in the state. The National Science Foundation CAREER awards are in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through research and education, and the integration of these endeavors in the context of their organizations’ missions.
