Wade R. Roberts
I am currently a researcher in the Alverson Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Arkansas. I previously completed my Ph.D. with Eric Roalson at Washington State University.
Contact me: wade.r.roberts at gmail (dot) com
Research
I am fascinated by the diversity and complexity of life. My research focuses on understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes that give rise to species diversity and uses a combination of phylogenomics and comparative genomics. My primary interest lies in exploring the interactions between ecological adaptations and genomic complexity. I have used both plant and diatom systems to explore these questions. Community engagement and outreach are important elements to my work, such as my participation in myDiatoms, a citizen science project that aims to introduce students and the public to diatom biodiversity.
For my doctoral work, I explored patterns of flower diversification in the genus Achimenes (Gesneriaceae), using both phylogenomics and comparative gene expression analyses. My current research focuses on the phylogenomics and evolutionary genomics of diatoms, focusing on the centric diatom order Thalassiosirales as an emerging model lineage that spans the marine-freshwater salinity gradient and exhibits substantial genome size variation.
Teaching
I have formal teaching experience from Washington State University for courses in Introductory Biology, Introductory Botany, and Systematic Botany. My responsibilities included laboratory instruction and lecturing, curriculum development and course design, laboratory prep, writing quizzes and exams, performing course assessments, and providing office hours. I also pursued professional development opportunities and coursework to improve my college teaching skills.
I began my interest in education as an undergraduate teaching assistant and supplemental instructor at Whitworth Universrity for courses in General Biology, Plant Biology, and Genetics. I provided laboratory instruction, organized and led study sessions, and created study guides and worksheets to aid student learning.
Publications
Pinseel E, Ruck EC, Nakov T, Jonsson P, Kourtchenko O, Kremp A, Roberts WR, Sjöqvist C, Töpel M, Godhe A, Hahn MW, Alverson AJ. 2025. Genome-wide adaptation to a complex environmental gradient in a keystone phytoplankton species. Molecular Ecology. [doi] [pdf]
Alverson AJ, Roberts WR, Ruck EC, Nakov T, Ashworth MP, Bryłka K, Downey KM, Kociolek JP, Parks M, Pinseel E, Theriot EC, Tye SP, Witkowski A, Beaulieu JM, Wickett NJ. 2025. Phylogenomics reveals the slow burning fuse of diatom evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [doi] [pdf]
Roberts WR, Alverson AJ. 2025. Three reference genomes for diatom ecology and evolution. Journal of Phycology [doi] [pdf]
Roberts WR, Siepielski AM, Alverson AJ. 2024. Diatom abundance in the polar oceans is predicted by genome size. PLoS Biology [doi] [pdf] [cover image]
Bryłka K, Pinseel E, Roberts WR, Ruck EC, Conley DJ, Alverson AJ. 2023. Gene duplication, shifting selection, and dosage balance of silicon transporter proteins in marine and freshwater diatoms. Genome Biology and Evolution [doi] [pdf]
Roberts WR, Ruck EC, Downey KM, Pinseel E, Alverson AJ. 2023. Resolving marine-freshwater transitions by diatoms through a fog of gene tree discordance. Systematic Biology [doi] [pdf]
Çiftçi O, Alverson AJ, van Bodegom P, Roberts WR, Mertens A, van de Vijver B, Trobajo R, Mann D, Pirovano W, van Eijk I, Gravendeel B. 2022. Phylotranscriptomics reveals the reticulate evolutionary history of a widespread diatom species complex. Journal of Phycology [doi] [pdf]
Onyshchenko A, Roberts WR, Ruck EC, Lewis JA, Alverson AJ. 2021. The genome of a nonphotosynthetic diatom provides insights into the metabolic shift to heterotrophy and constraints on the loss of photosynthesis. New Phytologist [doi] [pdf]
Gargas CB, Roberts WR, Alverson AJ. 2020. Genome sequences of bacteria associated with the diatom Cyclotella cryptica strain CCMP332. Microbiology Resource Announcements [doi] [pdf]
Roberts WR, Downey KM, Ruck EC, Traller JC, Alverson AJ. 2020. Improved reference genome for Cyclotella cryptica CCMP332, a model for cell wall morphogenesis, salinity adaptation, and lipid production in diatoms (Bacillariophyta). G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics [doi] [pdf]
Roberts WR, Roalson EH. 2020. Co-expression clustering across flower development identifies modules for diverse floral forms in Achimenes (Gesneriaceaea). PeerJ [doi] [pdf]
Kleinkopf JA, Roberts WR, Wagner WL, Roalson EH. 2019. Diversification of Hawaiian Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) under the influence of incomplete lineage sorting and hybridization. Journal of Systematics and Evolution [doi] [pdf]
Roberts WR, Roalson EH. 2018. Phylogenomic analyses reveal extensive gene flow within the magic flowers (Achimenes). American Journal of Botany [doi] [cover image] [pdf]
Roberts WR, Roalson EH 2017. Comparative transcriptome analyses of flower development in four species of Achimenes (Gesneriaceae). BMC Genomics [doi] [pdf]
Roalson EH, Roberts WR. 2016. Distinct processes drive diversification in different clades of Gesneriaceae. Systematic Biology [doi] [cover image] [pdf]