Lab Members - Wessinger Lab
Lab Members
Carrie Wessinger
Carrie started the lab at the University of South Carolina in the Spring of 2020. She is a native of Portland, Oregon and earned her BS in Biology from Brown University where she gained an appreciation for organismal and evolutionary biology. She then worked with Mark Rausher at Duke University for her PhD and worked with Lena Hileman (and John Kelly) at the University of Kansas for her postdoc, all current collaborators. She is fascinated by the phenomenon of parallel evolution. Outside of work, she loves exploring Columbia and the natural beauty of South Carolina.
wessinc[at]mailbox.sc.edu
Ben Stone
Ben is an NSF Postdoc Fellow in the lab. He received his BS in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University. He stayed at OSU to work with Andi Wolfe for his PhD, where he studied comparative phylogeography and systematics in Penstemon subgenus Dasanthera. Ben’s research focuses on hybridization and transitions to hummingbird pollination in the Dasanthera clade of Penstemon. Outside of the lab, Ben likes exploring nature and playing music. Ben joined the lab in the Fall of 2021. Ben will be starting as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2025 at Mississippi State University!
Aidan Short
Aidan is an NSF Postdoc Fellow in the lab studying how divergent pollinator adaptation contributes to genome divergence and speciation. To do this he is analyzing patterns of selection and gene flow between the sister species Penstemon barbatus and virgatus, and is also performing simulations of pollinator isolation. Aidan developed an interest in speciation as a PhD student in Matt Streisfeld’s lab where he studied the outcomes of hybridization within the Mimulus aurantiacus species complex. Outside of the lab, he enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He joined the lab in January 2025.
Josh Stevens
Josh is a PhD student in the lab. He obtained his undergraduate degree at Keene State College. Josh’s research focuses on gene flow and mating patterns within various species of Penstemon. He is broadly interested in evolutionary ecology & bioinformatics. He enjoys hiking, kayaking, and exploring new areas. Josh joined the Wessinger lab in the Fall of 2020.
Trinity Depatie
Trinity joined the lab as a PhD student in the fall of 2020, and is interested in the evolution of floral morphological traits. Her dissertation focuses on the ecological function and genetic basis of personate flowers in Penstemon’s eastern clade (sect. Penstemon). Outside of lab, Trinity likes baking, hiking, and riding horses.
Zack Radford
Zack is a PhD student in the lab. He obtained a BS in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota. He then worked as a lab technician for Dave Moeller and Ya Yang working on several different projects related to dispersal, adaptation, complex traits, and metabolite evolution. Zack’s research involves investigating the basis for complex trait evolution in Penstemon, particularly flower color polymorphism in Penstemon whippleanus. In his free time he enjoys backpacking, music, and long walks on scree.
Palmer Lambert
Palmer joined the lab as a technician in fall of 2024. He received a BS in environmental ecology at the University of Dayton. Since graduating, he has worked as a field technician for the USFS, collecting fire ecology data for Morris Johnson of the University of Washington. Palmer has a broad interest in environmental ecology and joined the lab to learn more about evolutionary ecology. His current roles within the lab are developing morphometric approaches to analyze flower shape data, helping to run the lab, and supporting his labmates’ research. Away from lab, he enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing, and crocheting.