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TODAY'S HOURS: 8 AM – 6 PM

*Last entry is an hour before closing

Alejandra Vasco, Ph.D.

Research Botanist

Education

Ph. D. in Biology, The City University of New York/ The New York Botanical Garden, 2010

B.S. in Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia, 2002

>> Full Curriculum Vitae

My main research interests are taxonomy and systematics of ferns, the genetic networks controlling leaf development in ferns, and the comparative morpho-anatomy of leaves in ferns. As a Research Botanist I lead the Ferns and Lycophytes Taxonomy and Evolution Program at BRIT, where I work since 2017. 

Mis intereses principales de investigación son la taxonomía y sistemática de helechos, las redes genéticas que controlan el desarrollo de las hojas en helechos y la morfo-anatomía comparada de las hojas de helechos. Dirijo el Programa en Taxonomía y Evolución de Helechos y Licofitas en el BRIT, donde trabajo desde 2017. Actualmente co-dirijo el proyecto Helechos de Colombia financiado por la Fundación Nacional de Ciencias de Estados Unidos.

 

Lab Members

Alejandra Vasco

PhD, PI

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Graduate Students

Susana Vega-Betancur

M.S. Student

University of Antioquia, Colombia
2020-Present

Laura Lucía Vargas-Longas

M.S. Student

Texas Christian University
2023-Present

Collaborators

Kimberlie Sasan

Herbarium and Research Assistant

Program Alumni

Carolina Rodríguez-Pelayo

M.S. Student

University of Antioquia, Colombia
2018-2021

Brenda Hernández-Hernández

B.S. Student

National Autonomous University of Mexico
2016-2017

Jorge Arias-Aldana

B.S. Student

National Autonomous University of Mexico
2016-2017

Lani DuFresne

2018 BRIT Summer Intern

Iván Rosales

2019 BRIT Summer Intern

Ana Gabriela Martínez-Becerril

Ph.D. Student

National Autonomous University of Mexico
2018-2023

Selected Publications:

Matos, F.B., & Vasco, A. 2022. Elaphoglossum matogrossense (Dryopteridaceae), a new and threatened species from Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Kew Bulletin. Available online: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-022-10043-2

Vasco, A., Ambrose, B.A. 2020. Simple and divided leaves in ferns: Exploring the genetic basis for leaf morphology differences in the genus Elaphoglossum (Dryopteridaceae). International Journal of  Molecular Sciences 21, 5180. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/15/5180/notes

Vasco, A., Smalls, T. L., Graham, S. W., Cooper, E. D., Wong, G.K-S., Stevenson, D. W., Moran, R. C. & Ambrose, B. A. 2016. Challenging the paradigms of leaf evolution: Class III HD-Zips in ferns and lycophytes. New Phytologist 212 (3): 745–758. doi: 10.1111/nph.14075

Mynssen, C. M., Vasco, A., Moran, R.C., Sylestre, L.S. & Rouhan. G. 2016. Desmophlebiaceae and Desmophlebium: A new family and genus of Eupolypod II ferns. Taxon 65 (1): 19-34. doi: 10.12705/651.2

Department

Contact Details

Phone: (817) 332-4441 ext. 262

Email: avasco@brit.org

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