JUSTIN ZWECK
PhD Candidate
jzweck@slu.edu
3507 Laclede Avenue
Macelwane Hall, Rm 128
St Louis, MO 63103
(608)-334-0489
Education
Saint Louis University/Missouri Botanical Garden
2012 Present (Expected Graduation May 2017)
PhD Candidate in Biology (Passed Qualifiers With Distinction)
2014-Present
Certificate in University Teaching
Tallgrass Prairie Bees: An Identification Training Workshop
January 12-16, 2015
University of Minnesota, instructor Mike Arduser
U.S. DNA Banking Workshop
January 3-4, 2013
Sponsored by Missouri Botanical Garden and NSF
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Spring 2011
Biology 342/542: Vascular Plant Taxonomy. Audit
University of Wisconsin-Madison
2002-2006
B.S. in Botany
Senior thesis: Pollen Morphology in the Malvaceae
Teaching Experience
Planting Science Mentor
Fall 2016, Spring 2017
Online, volunteer mentorship of middle school and high school students science projects, through
the Botanical Society of America
Guest Lecturer, Evolutionary Biology (BIOL 301), Saint Louis University
Fall 2016
Guest Lecturer, Floristic Taxonomy (BIOL 5079), Missouri Botanical
Garden/University of Missouri St Louis
Spring 2016-Spring 2017
Guest Lecturer (and Lab), Plants and Fungi (BIOL 326), Saint Louis University
Spring 2016
Teaching Assistant, Introductory Biology (BIOL 104/106) Saint Louis University
2012-2014
REU Assistant Coordinator, Missouri Botanical Garden
Summer 2013
Aided in undergraduate research projects and presentations in NSF sponsored program
Scholarship
Research Experience:
Investigation of Floral Form Change in the Genus Dalea (Fabaceae)
August 2012-Present
PhD Dissertation Research, Saint Louis University
Self-Incompatibility in the Genus Blandfordia (Blandfordiaceae)
Spring 2016
Natural Rates of Chloropid Fly-Pollination in Corunastylis Species (Orchidaceae)
Spring 2016
Pollination Biology of the Federally Threatened Asclepias meadii in an Ozark Glade
Spring 2013, 2014
Pollination Ecology of the Invasive Vine Kudzu in a Missouri Roadside
Summer 2012, 2013
Pollination and Comparative Reproduction in Two Viola pedata Color Morphs
Spring 2014-2015
Grants and Awards:
First place, Saint Louis University GSA Symposium Paper Competition
April 22, 2016
Amount: $250
Saint Louis University Knoedler Award
Spring 2016
Amount: $500
Ginny Saylor Research Grant, Arizona Native Plant Society
Fall 2015
Amount: $1000
Saint Louis University Graduate Student Association Brennan Fellowship
Spring 2015
Amount: $2000
Southwest Research Station Student Subsidy Award
Spring 2015
Amount: $325
First place, Saint Louis University GSA Symposium Poster Competition
April 11 2014
Amount: $250
Passing to Candidacy With Distinction, Saint Louis University
Fall 2013
Bo Koster Grant, Webster Groves Nature Study Society
Spring 2013
Amount: $2000
Oral Presentations:
Comparison of Generalized and Specialized Pollination Systems in Co-Occurring
Legumes
September 17st, 2016 St Louis Ecology and Evolution Annual Retreat
An Investigation of Pollination and Floral Form Change in Legumes: From Specialization
to Generalization
August 1st, 2016 Botanical Society of America Annual Meeting
An Investigation of Pollination and Floral Form Change in Legumes: From Specialization
to Generalization
April 22nd, 2016 Saint Louis University Symposium
Pollination and Reproduction of the Rare Plant Meads Milkweed (Asclepias meadii) in an
Ozark Glade
April 24th, 2015 Saint Louis University Symposium
Poster Presentations:
Smithsonian Annual Botanical Symposium
May 20th, 2016
Science on the Sonoita Plain
June 6th, 2015
Missouri Botanical Garden 61st Annual Systematics Symposium
October 11th 2014
Saint Louis University Ecology and Evolution Retreat
September 27th 2014
Botanical Society of America Annual Conference
July 26th-30th 2014
Saint Louis University Graduate Student Symposium
April 11th 2014
Missouri Botanical Garden 60th Annual Systematics Symposium
October 12th 2013
Saint Louis Ecology and Evolution Retreat
September 28th 2013
Botanical Society of America Annual Conference
July 27th-31st 2013
Saint Louis University Graduate Student Symposium
March 18th 2013
Publications:
Edens-Meier, R.., G. Brown, J. Zweck, M. Arduser, J. Edens, T. Dickson, H. Nonnenmacher, E.
Westhus, P. Bernhardt. Reproductive Ecology of Asclepias meadii Torr. (Apocynaceae), a Federally
Threatened Species. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society. In press
Bernhardt, P.B., Edens-Meier, D. Jocsen, J. Zweck R., R. Zong-Xin, G.R. Camilo, M Arduser. The
comparative floral ecology of bicolor and concolor morphs of Viola pedata L. (Violaceae) following
controlled burns. Journal of Pollination Biology. Journal of Pollination Ecology. In press
Publications in Prep:
Zweck, J., P Bernhardt. Comparison of co-blooming Dalea (Fabaceae) reveals multiple pollination
strategies.
Zweck, J., P. Muniz, M. Arduser, P. Bernhardt. Comparison of generalized and specialized
pollination systems in co-occuring legumes.
Zweck, J., M. Arduser, P. Bernhardt. No evidence for plant-pollinator mismatch in white prairie clover
(Dalea candida (Fabaceae)): Implications for climate change.
Callen, S.T., J. Zweck, Z.-X. Ren, T. Zander, R OHanlon, M Greg, W.
Zhou, H. Wang, P. Bernhardt, and A.J. Miller. Pollination biology and mating system of kudzu
(Pueraria montana) in native and invasive populations.
Additional Biological Experience
Star Environmental Inc.
Summer 2016
Botanical Consultant, inventorying plant species on wetland mitigation sites in Central Wisconsin
US Forest Service, Checquamegon-Nicolet Great Divide District
Summer 2011
Volunteer, assisted with plant inventories, especially involving the rare Botrychium mormo and
Dryopteris fragrans, extermination of invasive plant species in Northern Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Herbarium
January 2011-2012
Volunteer Plant specimen mounter
The Prairie Enthusiasts, Southwestern Wisconsin
2006-2012
Volunteer, assisted in prescribed burning, collecting and broadcasting native plant seeds, and
controlling invasive species
Regua Atlantic Rainforest Preserve, Guapiacu Brasil
June 2010-September 2010
Volunteer in reforestation, research assistant, greenhouse assistant, English teacher
Service
Reviewing Editor Board, Applications in Plant Science Journal
Fall 2016
Volunteer reviewing of submitted manuscripts
Saint Louis University Graduate Student Association
2015-20017
Biology representative, Treasurer, Executive board
Tower Grove East Community Garden
2016-2017
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Wisconsin Ice Age Trail
Spring 2010
Volunteer field editor for Ice Age Trail guide book
Madison Literacy Network
2007- 2009
Volunteer tutor to ESL students
Outreach
Saint Louis Zoo Pollinator Dinner
June 16th 2015
MOBOT Plant Walk, Fascination of Plants Day
May 18th 2015
Saint Louis Zoo Pollinator Dinner
June 17th 2014
Saint Louis Zoo Pollinator Dinner
June 18th 2013
SIFT Program for High School Research, Shaw Nature Reserve
June 20th 2013
Clubs and Professional Memberships
Biodiversity Journal Club (Missouri Botanical Garden)
Ethnobotany Journal Club (Missouri Botanical Garden)
Torrey Botanical Club
Missouri Native Plant Society
Botanical Club of Wisconsin
Arizona Native Plant Society
Botanical Society of America
Skills
R studio (Statistical Analysis, Graphing, etc.)
ArcGis
Maxent
Microsoft Office
Fluorescence Microscopy
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Plant/Insect Identification
Languages
English, Portuguese, and Spanish
References
Scientific Advisers:
PhD Committee
Dr. Peter Bernhardt bernhap2@slu.edu
Dr. Nathan Muchhala n_muchhala@yahoo.com
Dr. Allison Miller amille75@slu.edu
Dr. Gerardo Camilo camilogr@slu.edu
Dr. Brian Downes bdownes1@slu.edu
Collaborators and Land Managers:
Linda Kennedy: researchranch@audobon.org
Manager of Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch in Elgin, AZ
Mike Arduser arduser.michael@gmail.com
Collaborator on several projects, Retired Entomologist with the Missouri Department of
Conservation
