Dr. Jianhua Li joined the Hope biology faculty in 2009 after working as a senior research scientist at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University for 10 years. He is currently on the executive committee of MiCOB (the Michigan Consortium of Botanists) and the editorial board of theJournal of Systematics and Evolution.

Dr. Li works on plant systematics of various plant groups that are distributed mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, with a focus on those that show a disjunct distribution between the Old and New Worlds. The courses he teaches include:

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AREAS OF INTEREST

Dr. Li is interested in understanding the taxonomy, phylogenetic relationships, classification, biogeography and evolution of important traits of various plant groups. He has used data from morphology, anatomy, chemistry and molecular biology to study plant groups such as conifers, maples, birches, lilacs and privets, and witch-hazels.

EDUCATION

• Postdoctorate, plant systematics, Harvard University, 1998
• Ph.D., plant biology, University of New Hampshire, 1997
• M.S., plant biology, Huazhong Normal University, 1987
• B.S., biology, Henan Normal University, 1984

HONORS, GRANTS and AWARDS

• Member of the Executive Committee of the MichiganBotanistConsortium of Botanists, 2004–present
• Associate Editor of theJournal of Systematics and Evolution, 2007–present
• Sargent Fellow of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, 2015
• Michigan Space Grant (PI), 2013, 2019
• Michigan Botanical Foundation grant (PI), 2010, 2011, 2019
• Hanes Foundation grant (PI), 2010
• International Lilac Society Research grant (PI), 2008–2010; 2017
• NSF: Tree of Life of Gymnosperms grant (co-PI), 2006–2010

Selected Publications

See full citations and additional publications inDigital Commons.

• “Repeated Intercontinental Migrations and Recurring Hybridizations Characterise the Evolutionary History of Yew (Taxus),” with Moller et al.,Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution153, 2020
• “Maple Phylogeny and Biogeography Inferred from Phylogenomic Data,” with Stukel et al.,Journal of Systematics and Evolution57, 2019
• “Allopatric Speciation in Asia Contributed to the Diversity Anomaly between Eastern Asia and Eastern North America: Evidence from Anchored Phylogenomics of Stewartia (Theaceae),” with P. Del Tredici et al.,International Journal of Plant Science180 (7), 2019
• “Differential Diversifications of South American and Eastern Asian disjunct generaBocconiaandMacleaya(Papaveraceae),” with Murray et al.,Journal of Systematics and Evolution56, 2018
• “Evolutionary History of the Angiosperm Flora of China,” with Lu et al.,Nature554, 2018
• “The Tree of Life: China Project,” with Z. Chen et al.,Journal of Systematics and Evolution54 (4), 2016
• “Tree of Life for the Genera of Chinese Vascular Plants,” with Z. Chen et al.,Journal of Systematics and Evolution54 (4), 2016
• “Global versus Chinese Perspectives on the Phylogeny of the N-fixing Clade,” with H. Li et al.,Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 2016
• “Phylogenetics and Biogeography of Apios (Fabaceae) Inferred from Nuclear and Plastid Genes,” with J. Jiang et al.,International Journal of Plant Science175, 2014
• “Molecular Systematics and Biogeography of Wisteria Inferred from Nucleotide Sequences of Nuclear and Plastid Genes,” with J. Jiang, C. Fu and S. Tang,Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 2014
• “Diversification of the Phaseoloid Legumes: Effects of Climate Change, Range Expansion and Habit Shift,” with H. Li et al.,Frontiers in Plant Science4, 2013
• “Phylogenetics and Biogeography ofTheaceaeBased on Sequences of Plastid Genes,” with M. Li et al.,Journal of Systematics and Evolution51, 2013
• “Development of Microsatellite Markers for the Dove Tree,Davidia involucrata(Nyssaceae), a Rare Endemic from China,” with Y. Du et al.,American Journal of Botanye206-e209, 2012
• “Generic Limits ofPyrinae: Insights from Ribosomal DNA Sequences,” with Q. Li et al.,Botanical Studies53, 2012

Outside the College

Outside work, Jianhua enjoys nature walks, sports (basketball and ping pong), and reading novels and popular science books.