This National Science Foundation (NSF) award under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) provides $806,156 to the Regents of the University of California at Riverside to conduct research on the mechanisms and repeatability of speciation with gene flow in sunflowers. The project will explore how structural variants in the genome facilitate parallel evolution and parallel speciation in dune sunflowers, connecting genotype to phenotype and fitness. It will also incorporate an educational component, developing hands-on, inquiry-based modules for first-year undergraduate students and providing research, mentorship, and outreach opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. The research aims to uncover fundamental evolutionary processes, improve understanding of biodiversity generation, and contribute to sustainable agriculture through the identification of useful traits in wild sunflowers. The project period runs from Mar 15, 2025 to Feb 28, 2030.
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