My research focus is on ecological and evolutionary factors that enhance invasiveness in plants.  Biological invasions are costly and ecologically damaging, so gaining a better understanding of why certain species are successful invaders is valuable.  In part, my goals are to use ecological principles to advance our ability to predict, avoid and manage invasions.  But I also use invasions as a tool for asking fundamental questions that apply broadly to population success of both native and introduced species.
 
Currently, there are four main components to my research program: 1) What are the ecological implications of intraspecific diversity for colonization success? 2) How do functional traits vary among species across a range of invasive potential? 3) Does interspecific hybridization enhance invasiveness in plants, and if so how?  4) Does resource enrichment interact with herbivory to influence biological invasions?