Ph.D., Systematic Botany, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 2003.
B.S. with honors, Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 1997.

Professional Experience

Associate Professor, Plant Systematics
           George Mason University, 2011 – present.
Director, Ted R. Bradley Herbarium (GMUF)
           George Mason University, 2005 – present.
Assistant Professor, Plant Systematics
           George Mason University, 2005 – 2011.
Post-doctoral Research Associate, National Research Council                                                                  US Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, 2004 – 2005.
Lecturer in Biological Sciences
           UT-Austin, School of Biological Sciences, 2003 – 2004.
Post-doctoral Fellow in Systematic Botany
           UT-Austin, Section of Integrative Biology, 2003 – 2004.

PUBLICATIONS

Peer-reviewed Articles (*=student authored)

20. *Alexander, S. N., L. C. Hayek, and A. Weeks. In review. A subspecific revision of North American saltmarsh mallow, Kosteletzkya pentacarpos (L.) Ledeb (Malvaceae). Castanea

19. Kronenfeld, B. and A. Weeks. In press. Representing uncertainty in the locations of origin of herbarium specimens: Deriving probability surfaces from vector sketches. Proceedings from the Ninth International Symposium on Spatial Accuracy Assessment in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. 4 pp

18. De Nova, J. A., R. Medina, J. C. Montero, A. Weeks, J. Rosell, M. E. Olson, L. E. Eguiarte and S. Magallón. 2011. Insights into the historical construction of species-rich Mesoamerican Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests: the diversification of Bursera (Burseraceae, Sapindales). New Phytologist.

17. Daly, D. C., M. C. Martínez-Habibe, A. Weeks, and M. M. Harley. 2011. Burseraceae. In: The families and genera of vascular plants, ed. K. Kubitzki. Vol. 10. New York: Springer-Verlag.

16. Rosell, J. A., M. E. Olson, A. Weeks, A. De Nova, R. Medina, J. Pérez Camacho, T. P. Feria, R. Gómez-Bermejo, J. C. Montero and L. E. Eguiarte. 2010. Diversification in species complexes: tests of species origin and delimitation in the Bursera simaruba clade of tropical trees (Burseraceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 57: 798-811.

15. *Weeks, A., Baird, K.E. and C. K. McMullen. 2010. Origin and evolution of endemic Galápagos Cordia species (Boraginaceae s.l.). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 57: 948-954.

14. *Baird, K.E, Funk, V., Wen, J. and A. Weeks. 2010. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Leibnitzia Cass. (Asteraceae: Mutisieae; Gerbera-complex), an Asian-North American disjunct taxon. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 48(3): 161-174.

13. Weeks, A., J.A. Leshin, K.L. Dretchen, E.W. Skonronski and K. P. O’Connell. 2010. Population- level variation of preproricin gene contradicts expectation of neutral equilibrium in generalist plant defense locus. Toxicon 55(8): 1475-1483.

12. Leshin, J.A., Danielson, M., Credle, J., Weeks, A., O’Connell, K. P., and K. Dretchen. 2010. Characterization of ricin toxin family members from Ricinus communis. Toxicon 55: 658-661.

11. Weeks, A. and A. Tye. 2009. Phylogeography of palo santo trees (Bursera graveolens(HBK) Triana & Planch. and B. malacophylla B.L. Robs.; Burseraceae) in the Galápagos archipelago. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 161: 396-410.

10. Weeks, A., 2009. Evolution of the pili nut genus (Canarium L., Burseraceae) and its cultivated species. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 56: 765-781.

9. Weeks, A., and B.B. Simpson. 2007. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Commiphora (Burseraceae) yields insight on the evolution and historical biogeography of an "impossible" genus. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 42: 62-79.

8. O'Connell, K. P., J. A. Leshin, A. Weeks, and E. W. Skowronski. 2006. Discovery and characterization of novel signatures from the Ricinus communis (castor bean) genome. Proceedings of the 25th Army Science Conference, Orlando, FL.

7. Simpson, B.B., L.L. Larkin, A. Weeks, and J.D. McDill. 2006. Phylogeny and biogeography of Pomaria (Caesalpinioideae: Leguminosae). Systematic Botany 31:792-804.

6. Weeks, A., D.C. Daly, and B.B. Simpson. 2005. Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of the Burseraceae based on nuclear and chloroplast sequence data.Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 35: 85-101.

5. Simpson, B.B., J.A. Tate, and A. Weeks. 2005. The evolution and biogeography ofHoffmannseggia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae, Caesalpinieae): A tale of many travels. Journal of Biogeography 32: 15-27.

4. Simpson, B.B., J.A. Tate, and A. Weeks. 2004. On the value of the genus Hoffmannseggia (Caesalpinieae: Caesalpinioideae: Leguminosae): Phylogeny and character evolution. Systematic Botany 29: 933-949.

3. Weeks, A. and B.B. Simpson. 2004. Molecular genetic evidence for interspecific hybridization among Hispaniolan Bursera (Burseraceae) American Journal of Botany 91: 975-983.

2. Simpson, B.B., A. Weeks, D.M. Helfgott, and L.L. Larkin. 2004. Species relationships in Krameria (Krameriaceae) based on ITS sequences and morphology: Implications for character utility and biogeography. Systematic Botany 29: 97-108.

1. Simpson, B.B., L.L. Larkin, and A. Weeks. 2003. Progress towards resolving the relationships of the Caesalpinia group (Caesalpinieae: Caesalpinioideae: Fabaceae). In: B. Klitgaard and A. Bruneau (editors) Advances in Legume Systematics X. Higher level Systematics and Biogeography. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond. pp. 123-148.

Book Reviews

Weeks, A., 2001. The ghosts of evolution: nonsensical fruit, missing partners, and other ecological anachronisms. Plant Science Bulletin 47: 123-124.

Research Grants, Competitive Fellowships and Honors (*=student authored)

2011: George Mason University. Provost's Creative Award. "Frontiers in comparative genomics           for biodiversity research." ($3000)
*2010: Washington Field Biologists’ Club Research Award to MS student, Matt Smith. “An                     annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Crow’s Nest State Nature Preserve, Stafford           County, Virginia.” ($2000)                                                                                                   2009: National Science Foundation DEB 0919179 "Collaborative Research: Phylogeny,           diversification, and evolutionary trajectories in the "Terebinthaceae" (Anacardiaceae and           Burseraceae). Collaborators: Paul Fine, UC-Berkeley; Susan Pell, BBG; Douglas Daly &           John Mitchell, NYBG, and Brian Moore. ($171,184, total $716,649)                                2007: Jeffress Memorial Trust. PI. “Evolutionary ecological bases of species diversification in the           Cashew (Anacardiaceae) and Frankincense and Myrrh (Burseraceae) families.” ($20,000)
2006: George Mason University Research Award for Tenure Track Faculty, "Phylogeographic           study of the genus Cordia in the Galapagos Islands" ($4403)
2004: US Army ILIR (In-House Laboratory Independent Research) Grant, “Genetic                                  characterization of Castor Bean and the molecular evolution of its toxin, Ricin.” ($150,000) 2004: National Research Council, Research Associate Post-Doctoral Fellowship at US Army            Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center, “Assessing global genetic diversity of Ricinus            communis (Euphorbiaceae) and its toxins for forensic use.” ($43,000)
2003: University of Texas at Austin, Research Excellence Award in Organismal Plant Biology,           ($100)
2002: University of Texas at Austin, Professional Development Award. ($400)
2001: National Science Foundation, Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant no. 0104898.                     ($9,974)
2001: University of Texas at Austin, David J. Brunton Continuing Fellowship. ($1,000)
1999: American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Graduate Research Award. ($500)
1999: University of Texas at Austin, Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies Faculty           Sponsored Grant for Doctoral Field Research in Latin America. ($1,540)
1999: Sigma Xi, Grants-in-Aid of Research. ($500)
1997: University of Texas at Austin, Academic Year Preemptive Research Fellowship. ($11,500)
1996: Cornell University, H.E. Moore Travel Fund Grant. ($1,000)

Professional Activities

Journal Reviewer: American Journal of Botany, Brittonia, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Cladistics, Systematic Botany.
Grant Reviewer: National Science Foundation: Systematic Biology, Biological Research Collections.
Professional Memberships: Botanical Society of America, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Southeast Regional Network of Expertise and Collections, Society of Systematic Biologists, Society for Economic Botany.
International Field Collection and Research Experience
Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Madagascar, Namibia.

Public Outreach Lectures & Workshops

2010. Biogeography of Virginia’s natives. Northern Virginia Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. Annandale, VA. May 13, 2010. (Lecture)

2010. Native Plants of Virginia: Virginia is for plant lovers. Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning. Fairfax, VA. May 11, 2010. (Lecture)

2010. Building Herbaria. Virginia Native Plant Society. Blandy Arboretum, VA. March 14,2010. (Lecture & Workshop)

2009. Systematics: Science of Biological Diversity. Sally Ride Science Festival for Girls. Fairfax, VA. April 18, 2009. (Workshop)

2009. Unversity Earth Day Celebration: campus plant tour and walking lecture. Fairfax, VA. April 22 & 29, 2009. (Lecture)

2008. Unversity Earth Day Celebration: campus plant tour and walking lecture. Fairfax, VA. April 21 & 22, 2008. (Lecture)

2007. Systematics: Science of Biological Diversity. Sally Ride Science Festival for Girls. Fairfax, VA. May 7, 2009. (Workshop)

2006. What Henslow taught Darwin. 2nd Annual On the origin of Species Symposium.George Mason University. November 29, 2006.  (Lecture)

2002. What are herbaria? And what are they good for? Meeting of the Georgetown Native Plant Society, TX. (Lecture)

References On Request