GENEVIEVE K. CROFT
Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis
1 Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1137, St. Louis, MO 63130
croft@wustl.edu
(314) 935-7230
EDUCATION
Ph.D. candidate, Washington University; Ecology, Evolution and Population Biology Program
Advisors: Barbara A. Schaal and Peter H. Raven (2006-present)
B.S. cum laude, Georgetown University, Biology, Research Thesis (2002)
Minors in English and Environmental Science
Semester Abroad, Tropical Biology, Organization for Tropical Studies, Costa Rica (2001)
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Dissertation Research, Dr. Barbara A. Schaal, Washington University
Evolution and ecology during domestication and landscape change in the Neotropical fruit tree,
Byrsonima crassifolia [Malpighiaceae]. (2008 - present)
Graduate Research Rotation, Dr. Barbara A. Schaal, Washington University and Dr. George
Yatskievych, Missouri Botanical Garden
Molecular roots of the recently described spring ephemeral, Claytonia ozarkensis. (2007 - present)
Graduate Research Rotations, Dr. Alan R. Templeton, Washington University
Morphological and demographic change in a founder population of the eastern collared lizard.
(2007)
Population genetics of eastern collared lizards, Crotaphytus collaris collaris, of the Missouri
Ozarks, post-reintroduction after habitat fragmentation. (2006)
Research Assistant, Dr. Matthew B. Hamilton, Georgetown University
Population genetics of Corythophora alta in the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragmentation
Project, Manaus, Brazil. (2005-2006)
Undergraduate Thesis Research, Mountain Lake Biological Station
Effect of local light environment on invertebrate herbivory of seedlings of three tree species.
(2001-2002)
Advisors: Dr. Eric S. Nagy, MLBS and University of Virginia and Dr. Martha R. Weiss,
Georgetown University
Organization for Tropical Studies, Costa Rica
Pollination implications of asynchronous protandry in Jacquinia nervosa. (2001)
The effect of varying canopy openness on herbivory of three understory shrubs. (2001)
Advisors: Dr. Evan Notman and Dr. Ana Cristina Villegas, Organization for Tropical Studies
Field Assistant, Dr. Timothy Beach, Georgetown University, Maya Research Project, Belize
Investigation of ancient Maya wetland agriculture, employing paleoecological research methods.
(2002)
PRESENTATIONS
Croft, GK, BA Schaal, G Yatskievych. 2011. Claytonia ozarkensis (Montiaceae): genetic variation
in a rare Spring Beauty endemic to the Ozarks and its relatives. Botanical Society of
America. St. Louis, MO. (oral paper)
Croft, GK, BA Schaal. 2011. From forests to farmland: genetics and ecology of early domestication in
Byrsonima crassifolia (Malpighiaceae). Evolution. Norman, OK. (oral paper)
Croft, GK, BA Schaal. 2010. From forests to farmland: genetics and ecology of early domestication in
Byrsonima crassifolia (Malpighiaceae). Botanical Society of America. Providence, RI. (poster)
Croft, GK, JA Neuwald and AR Templeton. 2007. Morphological and demographic change in a
founder population of the eastern collared lizard. Society for the Study of Amphibians and
Reptiles. St. Louis, MO (poster)
Croft, GK. 2002. Effect of local light environment on invertebrate herbivory on three tree species.
Georgetown University Honors Biology Symposium. Washington, DC
SEMINARS (*invited)
*Croft, GK. From Forests to Farmlands: the genetics of early domestication in Byrsonima crassifolia
(Malpighiaceae). 26 April, 2011. Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Croft, GK. Claytonia ozarkensis: hiding in plain sight? 7 April, 2011. Washington University Ecology,
Evolution & Population Biology Seminar.
*Croft, GK. La genética de la domesticación en Byrsonima crassifolia. 26 August, 2010. Universidad
Nacional Autonoma de Nayarit, Mexico.
Croft, GK. From Forests to Farmlands: the genetics and ecology of early domestication. 8 March,
2010. Washington University Ecology, Evolution & Population Biology Seminar.
*Croft, GK. Ecología y evolución durante la domesticación y cambios de paisaje en el frutal
Neotropical, Byrsonima crassifolia [Malpighiaceae]. 20 May, 2009. Universidad Nacional de
Bolivia, Bolivia.
Croft, GK. Ecology and evolution during domestication and landscape change in the Neotropical fruit
tree, Byrsonima crassifolia [Malpighiaceae]. 26 February, 2009. Washington University Ecology,
Evolution & Population Biology Seminar.
GRANTS & AWARDS
NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant (2010-2012)
$14969
Garden Club of America Award in Tropical Botany (2010)
$5500
Sigma Xi Grant in Aid of Research (2010)
$996
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2007-2010)
International Travel Allowance
$1000
Washington University Graduate Research Fellowship (2006-2011)
Catherine M. Lieneman Scholarship in Botany, Arts and Sciences, Washington University (2007-2008)
Summer Field Research Award in Archaeology, Georgetown School of Foreign Service (2002)
John Carroll Scholar, Georgetown University (1998-2002)
NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates Award, Mountain Lake Biological Station (2001)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Course Leader
Students in the Garden Seminar, Washington University (2011)
Teaching Assistant
Population Genetics, Washington University, Dr. Alan Templeton (2010)
Evolution, Washington University, Dr. Kenneth Olsen (2007)
Field Biology, Duke University Talent Identification Program, Western Montana (2002)
Emergency Medical Technician Training, Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service (2002)
Introduction to Environmental Science, Georgetown University, Dr. Timothy Beach (2001)
Forest Ecology, Georgetown University, Dr. Edward M. Barrows (2000)
MENTORING
Student: Mai Nguyen, Gateway High School, St. Louis; Young Scientists Program. (2011)
YSP Summer Focus Fellowship with research grant ($1500)
Project: Microsatellite analysis of fruit varieties in cultivated Byrsonima crassifolia.
Outcome: Presented a talk at the YSP Summer Focus Symposium, Washington University Medical
School, 2010.
Student: Susan Pasternak, Washington University Honors Environmental Studies major (2010-2011)
Project: Phylogeography of Byrsonima crassifolia: analyses of nuclear markers.
Outcome: Presented a talk at Students in the Garden Symposium, Missouri Botanical Garden, 2011.
SERVICE
National Association for Women in Science, St. Louis Chapter
Co-President (2009-2011)
President (2008-2009)
Secretary (2007)
Young Scientist Program, Washington University (2006-present)
Summer Focus Program Mentor (2010)
Evolution teaching team co-chair (2007-2008)
St. Louis Science Center Outreach (2007-2010)
Women in Science Day, Washington University (2006-2010)
Environmental Conservation Volunteer, United States Peace Corps, Panama (2002-2004)
FIELD EXPERIENCE & LANGUAGES
Research conducted in: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama
Spanish proficiency: Foreign Service Institute Superior rating, 2002
Portuguese proficiency: Beginner
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND MEMBERSHIPS
National Association for Women in Science
Society for Conservation Biology
Botanical Society of America
Society for Economic Botany
Society for the Study of Evolution