Valerie Soza
Valerie Soza
Research Scientist/Engineer
202A JHN
(206) 543-6740
My research attempts to understand the evolutionary history of species and the potential roles that flower morphology and biogeography play in speciation of angiosperms. Currently in the Hall lab, I am using molecular data to understand the tropical diversification of Rhododendron (Ericaceae) in Southeast Asia and to identify genes involved in flower symmetry changes in this group.
Valerie Soza completed her undergraduate studies in Environmental Studies and Anthropology at Pitzer College, Claremont, California, in 1997. Subsequently, she served as Botanical Field Studies Coordinator and Herbarium Curatorial Assistant at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont from 1997 to 2003. Dr. Soza received her Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Washington (UW), Seattle, completed her postdoctoral research at the UW, and now is a Research Scientist at UW.
The Rhododendron Genome and Chromosomal Organization Provide Insight into Shared Whole-Genome Duplications across the Heath Family (Ericaceae),
Soza, Valerie L., Lindsley Dale, Waalkes Adam, Ramage Elizabeth, Patwardhan Rupali P., Burton Joshua N., Adey Andrew, Kumar Akash, Qiu Ruolan, Shendure Jay, et al.
, Genome Biol Evol, 2019, Volume 11, Issue 12, p.3353 - 3371, (2019)
Partial redundancy and functional specialization of E-class SEPALLATA genes in an early-diverging eudicot,
Soza, Valerie L., Snelson Corey D., Hazelton Kristen D. Hewett, and Di Stilio VerĂ³nica S.
, Developmental Biology, Volume 419, Issue 1, p.143-155, (2016)
Pattern and process in the evolution of the sole dioecious member of Brassicaceae,
Soza, Valerie L., Le Huynh Vietnam, and Di Stilio VerĂ³nica S.
, EvoDevo, 2014/11/12, Volume 5, Issue 1, p.42, (2014)
Timing and consequences of recurrent polyploidy in meadow-rues (Thalictrum, Ranunculaceae),
Soza, V. L., Haworth K. L., and Di Stilio VS
, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Volume 30, Issue 8, p.1940-1954, (2013)
Vascular flora of the Verdugo Mountains and San Rafael HIlls, Los Angeles County, California,
Soza, VL, Gross L, Boyd S, and Fraga N
, Crossossoma, Volume 39, Issue 1-2, p.1-140, (2013)
Phylogenetic insights into the correlates of dioecy in meadow-rues (Thalictrum, Ranunculaceae),
Soza, V. L., Brunet J., Liston A., Salles Smith P., and Di Stilio VS
, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Volume 63, Issue 1, Number 1, p.180-192, (2012)
Molecular systematics of tribe Rubieae (Rubiaceae): evolution of major clades, development of leaf-like whorls, and biogeography,
Soza, V. L., and Olmstead R. G.
, Taxon, 2010, Volume 59, Issue 3, p.755-771, (2010)