Dr. Romero-Severson studies population genetics and genome evolution in red oaks, the dominant hardwood tree species in the forests of the eastern United States. Her research program employs DNA markers and DNA sequence to detect population substructure, determine pedigree relationships, generate genetic maps and test speciation hypotheses. Dr. Romero-Severson also specializes in the application and development of statistical tools for phylogenetic analysis and gene discovery in natural populations of plants and insects.

The most widely distributed red oak is Quercus rubra L. (northern red oak). One of the program’s study sites, Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior, represents the extreme northern edge of the natural range. The chloroplast, mitochondrial and nuclear genome of every northern red oak on the island will be genotyped to infer the origin of this population, the pedigree relationships and the degree of natural regeneration. These data will allow estimates of the effective population size, the degree of inbreeding and the vulnerability of the population to climate change.