I have a BSc in Biological Sciences from Edinburgh Napier University and an MSc in Plant Genetic Manipulation from the University of Nottingham. My PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics was carried out at the University of St. Louis - Missouri in the lab of Dr. Elizabeth (Toby) Kellogg, and then I did a postdoc with Dr. Lena Hileman at the University of Kansas. I have been an Assistant Professor in Plant Biology at the University of Vermont since September 2012.

Evolution of plant reproductive development

Preston, J. C., Hileman, L. C. Parallel evolution of TCP and B-class genes in Commelinaceae flower bilateral symmetry. EvoDevo 2012; 3: 6.

Preston, J. C., Wang, H., Kursel, L., Doebley, J., Kellogg, E. A. The role of teosinte glume architecture (tga1) in coordinated regulation and evolution of grass glumes and inflorescence axes. New Phytol 2012; 193: 204-215.

Preston, J. C., Martinez, C. C., Hileman, L. C. Gradual disintegration of the floral symmetry gene network is implicated in the evolution of a wind-pollination syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2011; 106: 2343-2348.

Preston, J. C., Hileman, L. C. SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN1 initiates flowering in Antirrhinum majus through activation of meristem identity genes. Plant J 2010; 62: 704-712.

Preston, J. C., Kellogg, E. A. Discrete developmental roles for temperate cereal grass VERNALIZATION/FRUITFULL-like genes in flowering competency and the transition to flowering. Plant Phys 2008; 146: 1-12.

Preston, J. C., Kellogg, E. A. Reconstructing the evolutionary history of paralogous APETALA1/FRUITFULL-like genes in grasses (Poaceae). Genetics 2006; 174: 421-437.

* indicates equal contribution

John and Christina Craighead Foundation Evolution of petal fusion in the asterid core eudicots (2012-2015)

USDA-HATCH Evolutionary origins and genetic basis of vernalization responsiveness in pooid grasses (2012-2015)

National Science Foundation Function and evolution of duplicated SPL genes in asterid core eudicots, in collaboration with Dr. Lena Hileman (University of Kansas). (2011-2013)