Maia Jones

I am a research assistant in the Nagalingum lab in the Botany department. My current research project is on cycads from South Africa in the genus Encephalartos (Zamiaceae). Many of the species from this region are functionally extinct in the wild or critically endangered, so we are using genomic data to assess the genetic diversity of these species in order to inform ex situ conservation efforts. My previous research projects with Dr. Nagalingum focused on Malaysian fern phylogenetics, and population genetics of an Australian cycad, Cycas candida (Cycadaceae). I graduated from Scripps College in 2020 with a BA in Organismal Biology. My pronouns are she/her/hers.