Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
@tropicalbotany.bsky.social
Botanist. Evolutionary biologist. Associate Professor and Herbarium Director, LSU. Passionate about plants, inclusive mentoring, and puzzles. I don't know what I'm doing here.
https://www.lagolab.net
https://www.lagolab.net
Pinned
Meet Dr. Laura Lagomarsino, who fell in love with plants during childhood camping trips in California's redwood forests. Her passion for plant-pollinator relationships began with a magical moment watching hummingbirds visit curved flowers in Costa Rica's cloud forests.
#Botany 🧪
wp.me/pdRZhH-m9q
#Botany 🧪
wp.me/pdRZhH-m9q
I’m honored to be highlighted in the most recent @botany.one feature!
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
I have the sad news that my friend & mentor Walter S. Judd passed away last Sunday. Walt was an award-winning teacher & a stellar systematist & taxonomist. His work with Ericaceae & Melastomataceae is the model of what good taxonomy is all about. He will be greatly missed. #Botany 🌾🧪
January 6, 2026 at 12:34 PM
I have the sad news that my friend & mentor Walter S. Judd passed away last Sunday. Walt was an award-winning teacher & a stellar systematist & taxonomist. His work with Ericaceae & Melastomataceae is the model of what good taxonomy is all about. He will be greatly missed. #Botany 🌾🧪
Um, okay then, what a morning to wake up…
January 3, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Um, okay then, what a morning to wake up…
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
I wanted to get a video of this ghost crab but every time I got close to their hole they scuttled back in, so I tried getting clever with it. I made a little sandcastle and shoved my phone into it, hit record, and walked away. Crab was VERY suspicious of this addition to their environment.
September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I wanted to get a video of this ghost crab but every time I got close to their hole they scuttled back in, so I tried getting clever with it. I made a little sandcastle and shoved my phone into it, hit record, and walked away. Crab was VERY suspicious of this addition to their environment.
I paid someone $$$ to detail my car today, including shampooing the upholstery- a car we’ve had for a decade without shampooing- and let me tell y’all, that’s some of the best money I have ever spent. It’s shiny clean, and I got to leave a nice tip the young, new business owner was thrilled about!
a man wearing a headband with a c on it talks to another man
ALT: a man wearing a headband with a c on it talks to another man
media.tenor.com
December 28, 2025 at 1:56 AM
I paid someone $$$ to detail my car today, including shampooing the upholstery- a car we’ve had for a decade without shampooing- and let me tell y’all, that’s some of the best money I have ever spent. It’s shiny clean, and I got to leave a nice tip the young, new business owner was thrilled about!
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
This afternoon's doodle features 3 species of Mole Salamanders.
The females of some populations of Mole salamanders exist only as females, and mate with males of multiple other species. They then patchwork those genes into their daughters. This process is called Kleptogenesis.
The females of some populations of Mole salamanders exist only as females, and mate with males of multiple other species. They then patchwork those genes into their daughters. This process is called Kleptogenesis.
December 26, 2025 at 10:47 PM
This afternoon's doodle features 3 species of Mole Salamanders.
The females of some populations of Mole salamanders exist only as females, and mate with males of multiple other species. They then patchwork those genes into their daughters. This process is called Kleptogenesis.
The females of some populations of Mole salamanders exist only as females, and mate with males of multiple other species. They then patchwork those genes into their daughters. This process is called Kleptogenesis.
Botanists x word nerds having fun with today’s NYT Connections:
Things associated with angiosperms: flowers, Solti.
Things associated with Florida: retire, melodramatic, Solti.
Things that famously come in pairs: musical notes, cherry, Solti.
(Alas! None the correct answer.)
Things associated with angiosperms: flowers, Solti.
Things associated with Florida: retire, melodramatic, Solti.
Things that famously come in pairs: musical notes, cherry, Solti.
(Alas! None the correct answer.)
December 25, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Botanists x word nerds having fun with today’s NYT Connections:
Things associated with angiosperms: flowers, Solti.
Things associated with Florida: retire, melodramatic, Solti.
Things that famously come in pairs: musical notes, cherry, Solti.
(Alas! None the correct answer.)
Things associated with angiosperms: flowers, Solti.
Things associated with Florida: retire, melodramatic, Solti.
Things that famously come in pairs: musical notes, cherry, Solti.
(Alas! None the correct answer.)
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
Curator of Education job (tenure-track Assistant Professor) at the Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado Boulder! Salary $90-$100K, 9 month full time position. Apply by Jan 21. jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDeta...
Assistant Professor - Curator of Education (Tenure-Track)
jobs.colorado.edu
December 22, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Curator of Education job (tenure-track Assistant Professor) at the Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado Boulder! Salary $90-$100K, 9 month full time position. Apply by Jan 21. jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDeta...
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
Preprint up now! With @ferrisifolius.bsky.social, we found positive selection on leaf shape plasticity across the altitudinal range of the cutleaf monkeyflower. This experiment was a HUGE personal undertaking. If you give it a read, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Phenotypic plasticity is broadly adaptive across an elevation gradient in the Cutleaf Monkeyflower
Phenotypic plasticity is a key mechanism by which organisms can cope with environmental heterogeneity, but its evolutionary consequences depend on how plastic responses align with the broader adaptive...
www.biorxiv.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Preprint up now! With @ferrisifolius.bsky.social, we found positive selection on leaf shape plasticity across the altitudinal range of the cutleaf monkeyflower. This experiment was a HUGE personal undertaking. If you give it a read, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
I’m so proud of new PhD holder, @evoyeyo.bsky.social- now an @lsuscience.bsky.social and #LagoLab alum. He’s off to a postdoc at University of Arkansas with @phylieu.bsky.social!
December 18, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I’m so proud of new PhD holder, @evoyeyo.bsky.social- now an @lsuscience.bsky.social and #LagoLab alum. He’s off to a postdoc at University of Arkansas with @phylieu.bsky.social!
Last day at @mobotgarden.bsky.social for what has been the loveliest sabbatical stay, and finally I got to have a good catch up over lunch with Prez Lúcia Lohmann! Her vision for the future of the Garden is so exciting, I’m so optimistic for the future of systematics in this hallowed institution.
December 17, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Last day at @mobotgarden.bsky.social for what has been the loveliest sabbatical stay, and finally I got to have a good catch up over lunch with Prez Lúcia Lohmann! Her vision for the future of the Garden is so exciting, I’m so optimistic for the future of systematics in this hallowed institution.
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
Because of phantom references, refs in languages other than English, and incorrect refs, I could tell that ~60% of my 400 level ugrads outsourced their papers to LLMs. I asked them why they thought anyone would hire them to do a mediocre job they could just get AI to do themselves?
December 15, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Because of phantom references, refs in languages other than English, and incorrect refs, I could tell that ~60% of my 400 level ugrads outsourced their papers to LLMs. I asked them why they thought anyone would hire them to do a mediocre job they could just get AI to do themselves?
At that stage of recovery from a cold where coffee smells delightful again 😃😃!! But tastes absolutely terrible ☹️☹️. Still gonna drink it, been missing caffeine…
December 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
At that stage of recovery from a cold where coffee smells delightful again 😃😃!! But tastes absolutely terrible ☹️☹️. Still gonna drink it, been missing caffeine…
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
We 💚 the Stranger Plants—and now they’re on #BSAswag!
The shirts feature bold illustrations by BSA’s own Catrina Adams, with a list of each species by common & scientific name on the back.
BSA members (exp. 2026+) get 10% off—email aneely@botany.org for code.
www.bonfire.com/store/bsa-wi...
The shirts feature bold illustrations by BSA’s own Catrina Adams, with a list of each species by common & scientific name on the back.
BSA members (exp. 2026+) get 10% off—email aneely@botany.org for code.
www.bonfire.com/store/bsa-wi...
December 12, 2025 at 4:29 PM
We 💚 the Stranger Plants—and now they’re on #BSAswag!
The shirts feature bold illustrations by BSA’s own Catrina Adams, with a list of each species by common & scientific name on the back.
BSA members (exp. 2026+) get 10% off—email aneely@botany.org for code.
www.bonfire.com/store/bsa-wi...
The shirts feature bold illustrations by BSA’s own Catrina Adams, with a list of each species by common & scientific name on the back.
BSA members (exp. 2026+) get 10% off—email aneely@botany.org for code.
www.bonfire.com/store/bsa-wi...
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
It’s reached that time of year again where I gently suggest you hang on to your manuscripts and submit them early in 2026. Otherwise they’re likely to just sit on a virtual to do list for the next 3 weeks sending auto-reminders to editors/reviewers. 🎄
December 12, 2025 at 4:11 PM
It’s reached that time of year again where I gently suggest you hang on to your manuscripts and submit them early in 2026. Otherwise they’re likely to just sit on a virtual to do list for the next 3 weeks sending auto-reminders to editors/reviewers. 🎄
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
Field botanist job with Virginia Natural Heritage, based in Roanoke, VA. $55-65K pay range. Please share widely! www.jobs.virginia.gov/jobs/field-b...
Field Botanist - Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Title: Field Botanist
State Role Title: Scientist II
Hiring Range: $55,000 - $65,000
Pay Band: 5
Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation
Location: Roanoke, VA
Agency Website: www.dcr.virginia.gov
R...
www.jobs.virginia.gov
December 10, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Field botanist job with Virginia Natural Heritage, based in Roanoke, VA. $55-65K pay range. Please share widely! www.jobs.virginia.gov/jobs/field-b...
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
It's in print! My opinionated dive into the definition of "coevolution" is officially out in the December issue of @journal-evo.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/evol...
doi.org/10.1093/evol...
Don't ask “when is it coevolution?”—ask “how?”
Abstract. Coevolution has come to be widely understood as specific, simultaneous, reciprocal adaptation by pairs of interacting species. This strict-sense
doi.org
December 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
It's in print! My opinionated dive into the definition of "coevolution" is officially out in the December issue of @journal-evo.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/evol...
doi.org/10.1093/evol...
New time sink from my employer just dropped!
Instead of likely inaccurately anticipating the number of times I'll be on a pier during future international fieldwork, I could be writing a grant. Whose indirect pays the personnel who approve these forms, and so the cycle continues...
Instead of likely inaccurately anticipating the number of times I'll be on a pier during future international fieldwork, I could be writing a grant. Whose indirect pays the personnel who approve these forms, and so the cycle continues...
December 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
New time sink from my employer just dropped!
Instead of likely inaccurately anticipating the number of times I'll be on a pier during future international fieldwork, I could be writing a grant. Whose indirect pays the personnel who approve these forms, and so the cycle continues...
Instead of likely inaccurately anticipating the number of times I'll be on a pier during future international fieldwork, I could be writing a grant. Whose indirect pays the personnel who approve these forms, and so the cycle continues...
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
Great question!
1) First and foremost, we evaluate a candidate based on the departmental guidelines and expectations provided. We don't hold the candidate to arbitrary standards, or even to those of our own institution unless asked to do so. We assess the materials against the guidelines provided.
1) First and foremost, we evaluate a candidate based on the departmental guidelines and expectations provided. We don't hold the candidate to arbitrary standards, or even to those of our own institution unless asked to do so. We assess the materials against the guidelines provided.
Dear senior profs who have written tenure letters.
Can you help demystify the process for some junior profs up for tenure soon?
What do you look for? How do you make your evaluation?
We are told that the letters are the most important part of the file, but not what letter writers look for.
1/
Can you help demystify the process for some junior profs up for tenure soon?
What do you look for? How do you make your evaluation?
We are told that the letters are the most important part of the file, but not what letter writers look for.
1/
December 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Great question!
1) First and foremost, we evaluate a candidate based on the departmental guidelines and expectations provided. We don't hold the candidate to arbitrary standards, or even to those of our own institution unless asked to do so. We assess the materials against the guidelines provided.
1) First and foremost, we evaluate a candidate based on the departmental guidelines and expectations provided. We don't hold the candidate to arbitrary standards, or even to those of our own institution unless asked to do so. We assess the materials against the guidelines provided.
A #botany achievement: I determined my first #Palicourea #Rubiaceae specimen to species- P. atlantica!! But my collaborator and coffee family mentor Charlotte Taylor’s name still made it to the label, since she is an author of the species.
May not seem like much, but feels like a big deal to me! 🤓
May not seem like much, but feels like a big deal to me! 🤓
December 4, 2025 at 11:38 PM
A #botany achievement: I determined my first #Palicourea #Rubiaceae specimen to species- P. atlantica!! But my collaborator and coffee family mentor Charlotte Taylor’s name still made it to the label, since she is an author of the species.
May not seem like much, but feels like a big deal to me! 🤓
May not seem like much, but feels like a big deal to me! 🤓
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
The Black Death was history's worst documented demographic disaster. New research shows it was also a bizarre anomaly, the unlikely result of volcanic eruptions, multiple consecutive poor harvests in Italy, a war between Genoa, Venice and the Mongols, AND a Black Sea plague outbreak. @science.org
Medieval volcano may have indirectly sparked Europe’s Black Death
Crop failures caused by eruptions possibly forced grain imports from plague-ridden regions
www.science.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The Black Death was history's worst documented demographic disaster. New research shows it was also a bizarre anomaly, the unlikely result of volcanic eruptions, multiple consecutive poor harvests in Italy, a war between Genoa, Venice and the Mongols, AND a Black Sea plague outbreak. @science.org
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
The @mortonarboretum.bsky.social NSF REU program is open for summer 2026! $7500 stipend + housing / travel. Apply by 31 Jan 2026 and share with your networks!
Details at https://mortonarb.org/science/opportunities-in-science/research-experiences-for-undergraduates-program/
Details at https://mortonarb.org/science/opportunities-in-science/research-experiences-for-undergraduates-program/
December 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The @mortonarboretum.bsky.social NSF REU program is open for summer 2026! $7500 stipend + housing / travel. Apply by 31 Jan 2026 and share with your networks!
Details at https://mortonarb.org/science/opportunities-in-science/research-experiences-for-undergraduates-program/
Details at https://mortonarb.org/science/opportunities-in-science/research-experiences-for-undergraduates-program/
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
PhD position available in evolutionary genomics/bioinformatics (hoehnalab.github.io/job_adverts/...). Topic: analyzing gene expression evolution across several firefly species and linking expression changes to genomic architecture. The position is jointly supervised with @anaevolcatalan.bsky.social
hoehnalab.github.io
November 11, 2025 at 9:00 AM
PhD position available in evolutionary genomics/bioinformatics (hoehnalab.github.io/job_adverts/...). Topic: analyzing gene expression evolution across several firefly species and linking expression changes to genomic architecture. The position is jointly supervised with @anaevolcatalan.bsky.social
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
The frequency and importance of polyploidy in tropical rainforest tree radiations
Schley et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Schley et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
November 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The frequency and importance of polyploidy in tropical rainforest tree radiations
Schley et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Schley et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Laura Lagomarsino, PhD
I'm hiring a full time fixed-term 1yr lab tech to assist with field and greenhouse projects related to floral evolution and plant reproductive ecology. Please share! Ideal start date early 2026.
jobs.clemson.edu/psc/ps/JOBS/...
jobs.clemson.edu/psc/ps/JOBS/...
November 24, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I'm hiring a full time fixed-term 1yr lab tech to assist with field and greenhouse projects related to floral evolution and plant reproductive ecology. Please share! Ideal start date early 2026.
jobs.clemson.edu/psc/ps/JOBS/...
jobs.clemson.edu/psc/ps/JOBS/...