Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Environmental Biology awarded $830,726 under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to Reed Institute for a collaborative longitudinal research project spanning August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2031. The primary deliverable is a multi-year field study investigating hybridization dynamics in yellow monkeyflower (Mimulus) species in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. The research will combine field observations with genetic analyses to identify the ecological, phenotypic, and genetic determinants maintaining species boundaries under varying environmental conditions, particularly drought stress. Key research outputs will include identification of specific genes controlling reproductive barriers such as flowering time, peer-reviewed scientific publications documenting the evolutionary impact of interspecific gene flow on adaptation and speciation rates, and genetic datasets from natural populations.

Beyond research outputs, the project includes substantial educational and outreach components. Deliverables encompass undergraduate and graduate student research training across all project phases, public lectures, field site demonstrations, greenhouse tours, and high school student engagement activities. The research findings are expected to produce practical applications in plant breeding and biotechnology, including methodologies for developing climate-resilient crops better synchronized with growing seasons. As a Research at Primarily Undergraduate Institution (RUI) collaborative award, the project prioritizes integrated learning experiences for student researchers while advancing fundamental knowledge of speciation processes and the role of hybridization in evolutionary biology.