The Ostevik Lab is committed to fostering an open and collaborative environment for scientific discovery.Â
We value being a welcoming community that is equitable and does not tolerate discrimination.Â
We understand that our work is more impactful and rigorous when we include multiple perspectives and experiences.Â
See our Code of Conduct for more information
Assistant Professor (she/her)
Google Scholar / Research Gate / LinkedIn
Kate is the principal investigator of the Ostevik Lab. She is interested in all things evolution, especially how new flowering plant species arise!
Email her: kostevik@ucr.edu
Research Assistant
My interest in studying life processes in molecular terms drives me to pursue a Biochemistry major. My main interests are how the body works and how humans evolved from primitive species to dominant creatures of the planet. I also enjoy observing local flowering plants, collecting, and dissecting flower specimens.
PhD Student
LinkedIn / ResearchGate / Google Scholar
I am interested in understanding the genomics of wild sunflower adaptation to climate-induced stress like drought. Through GWAS and resurrection experiments, I aim to address questions on contemporary evolution and potentially identify genetic variations that enhance sunflower resilience to climate change.
PhD Student
Brennan is interested in evolutionary genetics, including topics of speciation, and chromosome evolution. He is excited to investigate chromosomal rearrangements in Clarkia and their impact on reproductive isolation & speciation.
PhD Student
Gangothri is interested in evolutionary ecology, where she plans on studying the role of hybridization in determining the parent species fitness and speciation in the genus Penstemon. Apart from that, she loves observing nature and playing the violin.
Joint SDSU-UCR PhD Student
Alex is interested in population and evolutionary genomics of plants and how this information can help us understand historical events within lineages and predict future outcomes. Her project focuses on exploring the evolutionary genomics of hops domestication and how hops will cope in the future under climate change.
PhD Student
Teddy is interested in the genetics and evolution of native angiosperms (like sunflowers!) and how those findings can apply to conservation and management practices. They are especially curious as to how the soil environment may modify the felt effects of climate for overlying plants and how legacies of climate and soil adaptation have influenced the present-day genomics, morphology, mating system, and life history of native species.
Undergraduate Researcher
Yu is a Third-year Biology major student. He is passionate about exploring diverse fields within life sciences to uncover the intricacies of life forms. Eager to pursue graduate studies in future to deepen his understanding and contribute to the field.
Undergraduate Researcher
I'm a Biology major with a minor in Entomology on the Pre-Med track. I'm especially interested in the agricultural and genetic side of biology, particularly how plants adapt to environmental stress. After earning my bachelor's, I hope to continue my studies in a Biomedical Sciences Master’s program. Outside the lab, I love playing the trumpet and composing music.
Honors Student
My name is Michael Wang and I am currently a third-year student majoring in biochemistry. I like to study the life sciences from a chemical perspective, especially to apply what I have learned to real life. I also have a strong interest in species evolution, botany and ecology. I can often find connections with biochemistry in these fields. In my spare time, I like playing badminton, playing piano and drawing, video editing and creation. Sometimes, I read some philosophy books as well. Knowing some philosophy has helped me a lot in my daily and academic life. In the future, I hope to enter the graduate school to further study biochemistry and get a PhD degree.
Undergraduate Researcher
Hi! I'm a third year undergraduate Biology major. I'm really excited to be able to further develop my laboratory skills and in general, learn more about the underlying functions of life (whether it's plants or more)! I also love to watch television shows and read in my free time.
Undergraduate Researcher
Annhi is an undergraduate student majoring in plant biology, aspiring to pursue an MD/PhD. She is interested in exploring the evolutionary genetics behind plant responses to stress, in hopes of later applying this knowledge to improve crop resilience and global food security. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, hiking, and playing ice hockey.
2022-2025: Postdoctoral Scholar Google Scholar
Now faculty at CINVESTAV-IPN in Irapuato!Â
2023-2025: Undergraduate Researcher
2024-2025: Honors Student
2023-2025: Undergraduate Researcher
2023-2025: Undergraduate Researcher
2023-2024: Undergraduate Researcher
2024-2024: Undergraduate Researcher
2022-2024: Research Assistant
2023-2025: Undergraduate Researcher
2023-2024: Undergraduate Researcher
2023-2024: Undergraduate Researcher
2023-2024: Undergraduate Researcher
2022-2024: Undergraduate Researcher
2023-2024: Undergraduate Researcher
2023-2024: Undergraduate Researcher
2023-2024: Undergraduate Researcher
2022-2024: Undergraduate Researcher
2023: Undergraduate Researcher
2023: Visiting Undergraduate Researcher
2022-2023: Undergraduate Researcher
2023: Honors Student
2022-2023: Undergraduate Researcher
2023: Visiting Undergraduate Researcher
2022-2023: Undergraduate Researcher
2023: Summer Research Volunteer
2020-2021: Research Assistant
2021: Summer Research Intern
Banner photo: Penstemon collecting trip in the Sierra Mountains, CA. Photo by Kimmy Stanton.