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Papers
Povilus R.A. & Friedman W.E. (2022). Transcriptomes across fertilization and seed development in the water lily Nymphaea thermarum (Nymphaeales): evidence for epigenetic patterning during reproduction. Plant Reprod. doi:10.1007/s00497-022-00438-3
Povilus R.A. & Gehring M. (2022). Maternal-filial transfer structures in endosperm: a nexus of nutritional dynamics and seed development. Current Opinion in Plant Biology. 65: 102121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102121
Picard, C.L., Povilus, R.A., Williams, B.P., Gehring M (2021) Transcriptional and imprinting complexity in Arabidopsis seeds at single-nucleus resolution. Nature Plants. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-021-00922-0rdcu.be/clWuQ
This paper was highlighted in a News & Views article:
Profiling the endosperm, one nucleus at a time. Tanurdžić, M. Nature Plants (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-021-00945-7
Povilus, R. A., J. M. DaCosta, C. Grassa, P. R. V. Satyaki, M. Moeglein, J. Jaenisch, Z. Xi, S. Mathews, M. Gehring, C. C. Davis, W. E. Friedman (2020) Water lily (Nymphaea thermarum) genome reveals variable genomic signatures of ancient vascular cambium losses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1922873117
This paper was highlighted in a Commentary article:
Water lilies, loss of woodiness, and model systems. Peter R. Crane, Else Marie Friis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2020).
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2005075117
Povilus, R. A., P. K. Diggle, and W. E. Friedman (2018). 'Evidence for parent-of-origin effects and interparental conflict in seeds of an ancient flowering plant lineage'. Proc. R. Soc. B. 285: 20172491. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2491
Povilus, R. A., J. M. Losada, and W. E. Friedman (2015). 'Floral Biology And Ovule And Seed Ontogeny Of Nymphaea thermarum, A Water Lily At The Brink Of Extinction With Potential As A Model System For Basal Angiosperms'. Annals of Botany 115.2: 211-226. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcu235
Povilus R.A. & Gehring M. (2022). Maternal-filial transfer structures in endosperm: a nexus of nutritional dynamics and seed development. Current Opinion in Plant Biology. 65: 102121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102121
Picard, C.L., Povilus, R.A., Williams, B.P., Gehring M (2021) Transcriptional and imprinting complexity in Arabidopsis seeds at single-nucleus resolution. Nature Plants. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-021-00922-0rdcu.be/clWuQ
This paper was highlighted in a News & Views article:
Profiling the endosperm, one nucleus at a time. Tanurdžić, M. Nature Plants (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-021-00945-7
Povilus, R. A., J. M. DaCosta, C. Grassa, P. R. V. Satyaki, M. Moeglein, J. Jaenisch, Z. Xi, S. Mathews, M. Gehring, C. C. Davis, W. E. Friedman (2020) Water lily (Nymphaea thermarum) genome reveals variable genomic signatures of ancient vascular cambium losses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1922873117
This paper was highlighted in a Commentary article:
Water lilies, loss of woodiness, and model systems. Peter R. Crane, Else Marie Friis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2020).
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2005075117
Povilus, R. A., P. K. Diggle, and W. E. Friedman (2018). 'Evidence for parent-of-origin effects and interparental conflict in seeds of an ancient flowering plant lineage'. Proc. R. Soc. B. 285: 20172491. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2491
Povilus, R. A., J. M. Losada, and W. E. Friedman (2015). 'Floral Biology And Ovule And Seed Ontogeny Of Nymphaea thermarum, A Water Lily At The Brink Of Extinction With Potential As A Model System For Basal Angiosperms'. Annals of Botany 115.2: 211-226. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcu235
Pre-prints
Povilus RA & Friedman WE (2021). Transcriptomes across fertilization and seed development in the water lily Nymphaea thermarum (Nymphaeales) reveal dynamic expression of DNA and histone methylation modifiers. bioRxiv, doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.04.438399
Picard CL, Povilus RA, Williams BP, Gehring M (2020). Single nucleus analysis of Arabidopsis seeds reveals new cell types and imprinting dynamics. bioRxiv, doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.25.267476 (Published in 2021: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-021-00922-0rdcu.be/clWuQ )
Picard CL, Povilus RA, Williams BP, Gehring M (2020). Single nucleus analysis of Arabidopsis seeds reveals new cell types and imprinting dynamics. bioRxiv, doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.25.267476 (Published in 2021: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-021-00922-0rdcu.be/clWuQ )
Presentations + Posters
Povilus R.A. & Friedman W.E. (2021). Gene expression across fertilization and seed development in the minute water lily, Nymphaea thermarum (Nymphaeales): insights on epigenetic regulation during reproduction. Conference of the Botanical Society of America; oral presentation.
Picard C.L., Povilus R.A., Williams B.P., and Gehring M. (2020). Single nucleus analysis of Arabidopsis endosperm reveals new, transcriptionally distinct cell types. Conference of the Botanical Society of America; oral presentation.
Povilus, R., P.K. Diggle and W.E. Friedman (2020). Evolution of Parental Genome Dosage Sensitivity during Seed Development – a New Perspective from Water Lilies. Plant and Animal Genome Conference; oral presentation.
Povilus, R., P.K. Diggle and W.E. Friedman (2018). Evidence for parent-of-origin effects and interparental conflict in seeds of an ancient flowering plant lineage. Conference of the Botanical Society of America; oral presentation.
Povilus, R. and W.E. Friedman (2015). Reciprocal interploidy crosses in Nymphaea thermarum (Nymphaeales) – implications for the evolution of imprinting during seed development. Conference of the Botanical Society of America; oral presentation.
Povilus, R. and W. E. Friedman (2014). Optimizing Whole Mount Confocal Microscopy for Ovules and Seeds. Plant Biology Initiative Annual Symposium; poster presentation.
Povilus, R., J. Losada, W.E. Friedman (2014). Pre-fertilization Reproductive Development and Floral Biology in the Remarkable Water Lily, Nymphaea thermarum. Conference of the Botanical Society of America; oral presentation.
Povilus, R. and W.E. Friedman (2012). Female Gametophyte Development and Auxin Regulation in Aquilegia. Conference of the Botanical Society of America; poster presentation.
Picard C.L., Povilus R.A., Williams B.P., and Gehring M. (2020). Single nucleus analysis of Arabidopsis endosperm reveals new, transcriptionally distinct cell types. Conference of the Botanical Society of America; oral presentation.
Povilus, R., P.K. Diggle and W.E. Friedman (2020). Evolution of Parental Genome Dosage Sensitivity during Seed Development – a New Perspective from Water Lilies. Plant and Animal Genome Conference; oral presentation.
Povilus, R., P.K. Diggle and W.E. Friedman (2018). Evidence for parent-of-origin effects and interparental conflict in seeds of an ancient flowering plant lineage. Conference of the Botanical Society of America; oral presentation.
Povilus, R. and W.E. Friedman (2015). Reciprocal interploidy crosses in Nymphaea thermarum (Nymphaeales) – implications for the evolution of imprinting during seed development. Conference of the Botanical Society of America; oral presentation.
Povilus, R. and W. E. Friedman (2014). Optimizing Whole Mount Confocal Microscopy for Ovules and Seeds. Plant Biology Initiative Annual Symposium; poster presentation.
Povilus, R., J. Losada, W.E. Friedman (2014). Pre-fertilization Reproductive Development and Floral Biology in the Remarkable Water Lily, Nymphaea thermarum. Conference of the Botanical Society of America; oral presentation.
Povilus, R. and W.E. Friedman (2012). Female Gametophyte Development and Auxin Regulation in Aquilegia. Conference of the Botanical Society of America; poster presentation.
Education
- (2011-2017) Harvard University, Ph.D. program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
- (2009-2011) University of Colorado at Boulder, Ph.D. program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- (2005-2009) University of Michigan, B.S. with majors in Plant Biology and Earth Sciences
Appointments
(2017-Present) Post-doctoral Researcher Fellow, NSF Post-doctoral Research Fellowship in Biology (Plant Genome Research Program), hosted at the Whitehead Institute (Gehring lab)
- NSF PGRP fellowship project: "Identifying deeply conserved patterns of epigenetic modification and imprinting during seed development" (Co-PI: Mary Gehring)
- characterize computationally defined clusters in endosperm of Arabidopsis thaliana (Mentor: Mary Gehring)
(2011-2017) Graduate Student, Harvard University
- Dissertation: Evolution of female gametophyte and seed development in angiosperms (Advisor: William Friedman)
- Teaching Assistant: Plant Development (Pam Diggle), Introduction to Botany (Elena Kramer, Missy Holbrook, Pam Diggle)
- Administrative/Teaching Assistant: microMOPRH, an NSF-funded research coordination network that organzies workshops, symposiums, and summer courses and awards competitive grants to promote research in plant evolution and development as related to processes of micro-evolution. Activities include building/maintaining the microMORPH website, coordinating events, and acting as a teaching assistant during the microMORPH summer courses.
(2009-2011) Graduate Student, University of Colorado at Boulder
(Advisor: William Friedman)
- Teaching Assistant: Plant Anatomy (Pam Diggle), Plant Biodiversity and Evolution (William Friedman)
(2008-2009) Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Independent Research Project: Molecular evolution of meiosis initiation mechanisms in land plants (Yin-Long Qiu)
(2008-2009) Field Assistant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- CLIMBERS Project: a survey of vine and liana diversity across habitat, geographic area, and time (Robyn J. Burnham)
(2007-2008) Research Assistant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
-Molecular phylogeny of subgroups within the genera Croton and Euphorbia and initiation of a digital Euphorbia seed photo gallery, as part of the Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory project (Paul Berry, Ya Yang)
- NSF PGRP fellowship project: "Identifying deeply conserved patterns of epigenetic modification and imprinting during seed development" (Co-PI: Mary Gehring)
- characterize computationally defined clusters in endosperm of Arabidopsis thaliana (Mentor: Mary Gehring)
(2011-2017) Graduate Student, Harvard University
- Dissertation: Evolution of female gametophyte and seed development in angiosperms (Advisor: William Friedman)
- Teaching Assistant: Plant Development (Pam Diggle), Introduction to Botany (Elena Kramer, Missy Holbrook, Pam Diggle)
- Administrative/Teaching Assistant: microMOPRH, an NSF-funded research coordination network that organzies workshops, symposiums, and summer courses and awards competitive grants to promote research in plant evolution and development as related to processes of micro-evolution. Activities include building/maintaining the microMORPH website, coordinating events, and acting as a teaching assistant during the microMORPH summer courses.
(2009-2011) Graduate Student, University of Colorado at Boulder
(Advisor: William Friedman)
- Teaching Assistant: Plant Anatomy (Pam Diggle), Plant Biodiversity and Evolution (William Friedman)
(2008-2009) Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Independent Research Project: Molecular evolution of meiosis initiation mechanisms in land plants (Yin-Long Qiu)
(2008-2009) Field Assistant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- CLIMBERS Project: a survey of vine and liana diversity across habitat, geographic area, and time (Robyn J. Burnham)
(2007-2008) Research Assistant, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
-Molecular phylogeny of subgroups within the genera Croton and Euphorbia and initiation of a digital Euphorbia seed photo gallery, as part of the Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory project (Paul Berry, Ya Yang)
Service and Outreach
- (2018-Present) Whitehead Partner Program: regularly meet with middle- and high-school science teachers to discuss current topics in science, also host lab visits for student groups (including design a hands-on lab activity about pollen function and development during plant reproduction)
- (2016) Presented a talk and hands-on activity on seed biology, aimed at children and their families, as part of the I Heart Science Festival at the Harvard Natural History Museum
- (2015-2017) Botanical Society of America Student Representative
- (2015) Science Olympiad Event Runner for “Green Generation” (Principles of Ecology)
- (2014) Invited lecture for Arnold Arboretum volunteer training: “Botany in an Hour – Using Development to Understand Diversity”
- (2010-Present) PlantingScience mentor
- (2010) Teaching Evolution Workshop – Panelist (Session Topic: Evolution in Schools)
- (2009) Greenhouse volunteer, University of Colorado at Boulder.
- (2001-2004) Science Olympiad mentor, 6th-8th grade subdivision (St. Regis School, MI).
Awards, Scholarships, and Grants
- (2020) Margaret Menzel Award, awarded bu the Genetics Section for best presentation: "Single nucleus analysis of Arabidopsis endosperm reveals new, transcriptionally distinct cell/nuclei types". Botanical Society of America.
- (2018) Post-doctoral Research Fellowship in Biology (Plant Genome Research Program), National Science Foundation
- (2015) Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, National Science Foundation
- (2015) Triarch “Botanical Images” Student Travel Award, Second Place. Botanical Society of America and Triarch Incorporated.
- (2014) Katherine Esau Award, awarded by the Developmental and Structural Section for best student presentation: "Pre-fertilization reproductive development and floral biology in the remarkable water lily, Nymphaea thermarum.” (co-authors: Juan Losada and William Friedman), Botanical Society of America
- (2014) Student Travel Award, Developmental and Structural Section, Botanical Society of America
- (2012) Best Student Poster, Developmental and Structural Section, Botanical Society of America
- (2010-2011) NIH Creative Training in Molecular Biology, MCDB Department, University of Colorado at Boulder
- (2010) EBIO Department Research Grant, University of Colorado at Boulder
- (2009) Teaching Commendation, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder
- (2009) James B. Angell Scholar, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- (2008-2009) University Honors Recipient, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- (2008) Slater Scholarship, University of Michigan
- (2007) NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates, University of Michigan (Dr. Paul Berry)
Synergistic Activities
1) I have developed and presented lectures for training tour guides at the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, as well as a presentation and hands-on activity aimed at young children for the “I Heart Science” open-house day at the Harvard Natural History Museum. The lectures at the Arnold Arboretum introduced basic concepts of plant science, as well as examples of current botanical research, that the guides then use to develop and lead their own tours. Tours highlight the living collections of the Arnold Arboretum, which is part of the Boston City Parks system and receives over 250,000 visitors a year. The “I Heart Science” module highlighted the developmental basis for the morphological and functional diversity of seeds. The associated hands-on activity was designed to encourage children to think about how they encounter seeds on a daily basis, and how the ways that humans use seeds is related to how seeds function as part of the plant life cycle.
2) I served as a Student Representative to the Board of the Botanical Society of America. As student representative, I presented student concerns at board meetings, organized conference events, and wrote articles for the Plant Science Bulletin. The conference events I organized and the articles I wrote primarily focused on professional development for undergraduates and graduate students, and on improving communication skills in different settings (for research presentations, in classroom contexts, and for talking about science with the general public).
3) I served as the graduate student fellow for the NSF-funded microMORPH RCN grant. microMORPH coordinated symposia, workshops, and minicourses, and provided competitive funding for research that links genes through development to morphology, and ultimately to adaptation and fitness. I designed and managed the microMORPH website as a public face of microMORPH. I also took part in organizing symposia, workshops, and minicourses. For the minicourses (intensive, two-week sessions that aim to provide students with firm backgrounds in the organismic biology of plants) I organized lab materials and equipment, and supervised students during lab sessions. The minicourses were recently highlighted in a Nature article on "The lost art of looking at plants": Link to aritcle.
4) I have mentored grade school students through Science Olympiad and the PlantingScience. Science Olympiad is a program that aims to improve the quality of K-12 science education, increasing interest in science in all children, creating a technologically-literate workforce, though modular, tournament-style learning experiences. I have also designed an event exam for the ecological science module that specifically emphasized critical thinking skills over memorization of information. PlantingScience is a community of scientists and K-12 students and teachers participating in online mentoring coupled with classroom-based experimental inquiries in the plant sciences. Working with the “Wonder of Seeds” teaching module, I have been able to use images and concepts from my own research while interacting with the students.
5) I am an active member of two professional, plant-research related societies. Besides presenting posters and talks at local and national conferences, I have helped organize a poster session and a symposium titled “A Broader view for Plant Evo-Devo: novel approaches, technologies, and resources for non-traditional model systems” for the 2015 Botanical Society of American meeting. Since I am interested in developing non-traditional model system as part of my own research, I know from personal experience that it is important to have venues for sharing emerging technologies and resources.
2) I served as a Student Representative to the Board of the Botanical Society of America. As student representative, I presented student concerns at board meetings, organized conference events, and wrote articles for the Plant Science Bulletin. The conference events I organized and the articles I wrote primarily focused on professional development for undergraduates and graduate students, and on improving communication skills in different settings (for research presentations, in classroom contexts, and for talking about science with the general public).
3) I served as the graduate student fellow for the NSF-funded microMORPH RCN grant. microMORPH coordinated symposia, workshops, and minicourses, and provided competitive funding for research that links genes through development to morphology, and ultimately to adaptation and fitness. I designed and managed the microMORPH website as a public face of microMORPH. I also took part in organizing symposia, workshops, and minicourses. For the minicourses (intensive, two-week sessions that aim to provide students with firm backgrounds in the organismic biology of plants) I organized lab materials and equipment, and supervised students during lab sessions. The minicourses were recently highlighted in a Nature article on "The lost art of looking at plants": Link to aritcle.
4) I have mentored grade school students through Science Olympiad and the PlantingScience. Science Olympiad is a program that aims to improve the quality of K-12 science education, increasing interest in science in all children, creating a technologically-literate workforce, though modular, tournament-style learning experiences. I have also designed an event exam for the ecological science module that specifically emphasized critical thinking skills over memorization of information. PlantingScience is a community of scientists and K-12 students and teachers participating in online mentoring coupled with classroom-based experimental inquiries in the plant sciences. Working with the “Wonder of Seeds” teaching module, I have been able to use images and concepts from my own research while interacting with the students.
5) I am an active member of two professional, plant-research related societies. Besides presenting posters and talks at local and national conferences, I have helped organize a poster session and a symposium titled “A Broader view for Plant Evo-Devo: novel approaches, technologies, and resources for non-traditional model systems” for the 2015 Botanical Society of American meeting. Since I am interested in developing non-traditional model system as part of my own research, I know from personal experience that it is important to have venues for sharing emerging technologies and resources.