I am Weixuan Ning, a plant evolutionary biologist focused on understanding how plants evolve across both natural and human-influenced systems. I am currently a postdoctoral researcher with Dr. Jonathan Wendel and Dr. Corrinne Grover at Iowa State University. My research centers on the use of genomic data to uncover patterns of variation, adaptation, and divergence, with particular interest in processes such as genomic conservation and crop domestication.

By integrating population genomics, evolutionary theory, and comparative approaches, I aim to reveal how genetic diversity is shaped over time and how these patterns inform both the history and future resilience of plant species.

A key direction of my work is exploring complex evolutionary mechanisms, especially polyploidization, and its role in shaping plant genomes and phenotypes. I am particularly interested in how genome duplication influences adaptation, trait evolution, and the emergence of novel diversity, especially in crop species and their wild relatives.

Through this lens, my research bridges fundamental evolutionary questions with applied challenges in agriculture and biodiversity conservation, contributing to a deeper understanding of plant evolution in a rapidly changing world.