Barbara A. Ambrose

Ambrose began her career first as a National Science Foundation International Postdoctoral fellow (2000-2002) and then as a Postdoctoral Fellow (2002–2003) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico. During this time, her work was also focused on floral evo-devo in Lacandonia schismatica, a monocot with inside-out flowers.[4]

Ambrose was next a Lecturer in the Institute of Molecular BioScience (IMBS) at Massey University in New Zealand from October 2003 until August 2008,[4] where here research focused on the control of plant development at the molecular level, including Evo-Devo research related to fruit. At Massey, Ambrose was involved in the planning of the Manawatu Microscopy & Imaging Centre (MMIC). She also developed a course in Plant Development and worked on a project with Plant Biology and Massey gardening staff to label plants in the living collection, making this collection more accessible.[3]

Since 2008, Ambrose has been an Adjunct Professor for the Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY)[4] in the Plant Science subprogram where she has taught courses on Plant Development and Comparative Morphology of Vascular Plants.[7]

Ambrose has worked at the New York Botanical Garden since 2008. Hired as an Assistant Curator in the Plant Genomics department in 2008, she was promoted to Associate Curator in 2014. In 2017, Ambrose was named Director of Laboratory Research.[4] Ambrose's research interest is in Plant Evolutionary Developmental Genomics with research foci in Evolution as it relates to Molecular Biology and Genomics and Biochemistry as they relate to Gene Expression/Gene Regulation and Genetics/Development.[7] Her Evo-Devo research has continued to expand into work with leaves and seeds, using the latest scientific techniques to understand the evolution of morphological novelties. Recent projects also include the use of machine learning to identify herbarium specimens through kaggle competitions, notably in 2019 and 2020.[4]

• Evolution and Development in Lycophytes and Ferns
• Fruit Evolution and Development
• Transforming Selaginella Apoda Into a Major Model Species
• Elaphoglossum – the deer tongue ferns

In addition to her academic work, Ambrose is very active in scientific outreach activities in New York City, through CUNY, NYBG, and other local organizations including Cooper Hewitt.[4][8]

• B. Hérnandez- Hérnandez, R. Tapia-Lopez, B.A. Ambrose, and A. Vasco. (2020) R2R3-MYB gene evolution in plants, incorporating ferns into the story. International Journal of Plant Sciences. In Press.
• Alejandra Vasco and Barbara A. Ambrose. (2020) Simple and divided leaves in ferns, exploring the genetic basis for leaf morphology differences in the genus Elaphoglossum (Dryopteridaceae). Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21: 5180. Simple and Divided Leaves in Ferns: Exploring the Genetic Basis for Leaf Morphology Differences in the Genus Elaphoglossum (Dryopteridaceae)
• Rafael Cruz, Gladys Melo-de-Pinna, Alejandra Vasco, Jefferson Prado, and Barbara A Ambrose. (2020) Class I KNOX is related to determinacy during leaf development of the fern Mickelia scandens (Dryopteridaceae)" Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21: 4295. Class I KNOX Is Related to Determinacy during the Leaf Development of the Fern Mickelia scandens (Dryopteridaceae)
• N. Pabón-Mora, Y. Madrigal, J. Alzate, B. Ambrose, C. Ferrándiz, S. Wanke, C. Neinhuis, and F. Gonzalez. (2020) Class II TCP gene evolution in perianth-bearing Piperales and their contribution to the bilateral calyx in Aristolochia. New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16719
• D.P. Little, M. Tulig, K.C. Tan, Y. Liu, S. Belongie, C. Kaeser-Chen, F.A. Michelangeli, K. Panesar, R.V. Guha, and B.A. Ambrose. (2020) A competition for automatic species identification from herbarium specimens. Applications in Plant Sciences. In Press.
• C. Zumajo-Cardona and B.A. Ambrose. (2020) Phylogenetic analyses of key developmental genes provide insight into the complex evolution of seeds. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 147. .
• E. Mendelson, C. Zumajo-Cardona, and B.A. Ambrose. (2020) What is a fruit? In Press. Frontiers for Young Minds: Understanding biodiversity. 8: 27. https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2020.00027.
• C. Zumajo-Cardona, A. Vasco, and B.A. Ambrose. (2019) The evolution of the KANADI gene family and leaf development in lycophytes and ferns. Plants 8: 313. The Evolution of the KANADI Gene Family and Leaf Development in Lycophytes and Ferns
• K.C. Tan, Y. Liu, B. Ambrose, M. Tulig, and S. Belongie. (2019) The Herbarium Challenge Dataset. The Herbarium Challenge 2019 Dataset
• Juan F. Alzate R., H. Suárez-Baron, B. Ambrose, F. Gonzalez, N. Pabón-Mora. (2019) Genetic mechanisms underlying perianth epidermal elaboration of Aristolochia ringens Vahl (Aristolochiaceae). Flora 253: 56-66. Genetic mechanisms underlying perianth epidermal elaboration of Aristolochia ringens Vahl (Aristolochiaceae)
• P. Pérez-Mesa, H. Suárez-Baron, B. Ambrose, F. Gonzalez, N. Pabón-Mora. (2019) Floral MADS-box protein interactions in the early diverging angiosperm Aristolochia fimbriata Cham. (Aristolochiaceae: Piperales). Evolution & Development 21: 96-110. Floral MADS-box protein interactions in the early diverging angiosperm Aristolochia fimbriata Cham. (Aristolochiaceae: Piperales)
• C. Zumajo-Cardona, N. Pabón-Mora, B. A. Ambrose. (2018) Duplication and diversification of REPLUMLESS – a case study in the Papaveraceae. Frontiers in Plant Science 9: 1833. Duplication and Diversification of REPLUMLESS – A Case Study in the Papaveraceae
• C. Zumajo-Cardona, B.A. Ambrose, N. Pabón-Mora (2017) Evolution of the SPATULA/ALCATRAZ gene lineage and expression analyses in the basal eudicot, Bocconia frutescens L. (Papaveraceae). EvoDevo 8:5 Evolution of the SPATULA/ALCATRAZ gene lineage and expression analyses in the basal eudicot, Bocconia frutescens L. (Papaveraceae)
• H. Suarez Barón, Pablo Perez-Mesa, B.A. Ambrose, F. Gonzalez.and N. Pabón-Mora (2017) Deep into the Aristolochia flower: Expression of C, D and E-class genes in Aristolochia fimbriata (Aristolochiaceae). Journal of Experimental Zoology (Molecular and Developmental Evolution) 328B: 55-71. https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.b.22686
• A. Vasco, T.L. Smalls, S.W. Graham, E.D. Cooper, G.K.-S. Wong, D.W. Stevenson, R.C. Moran, B.A. Ambrose (2016) Challenging the paradigms of leaf evolution – Class III HD-Zip expression in ferns and lycophytes. New Phytologist 212: 745-758. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14075
• B.A. Ambrose and A. Vasco (2016) Bringing the multicellular fern meristem into focus. New Phytologist 210: 790-793. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13825
• N. Pabón-Mora, H. Suarez Barón B.A. Ambrose and F. Gonzalez (2015) Flower development and perianth identity candidate genes in the basal angiosperm Aristolochia fimbriata (Piperales: Aristolochiaceae). Frontiers in Plant Science 6:1095. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2015.01095.
• A. Vasco, J, Loríga, G. Rouhan, B.A. Ambrose, R.C. Moran (2015) Divided leaves in the genus Elaphoglossum (Dryopteridaceae): A phylogeny of Elaphoglossum section Squamipedia. Systematic Botany 40: 46-55. https://doi.org/10.1600/036364415X686323
• N. Pabon-Mora, Gane Ka-Shu Wong, B.A. Ambrose (2014) Evolution of fruit development genes in flowering plants. Frontiers in Plant Science https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2014.00300
• U.C. Samarakoon, K.A. Funnell, D.J. Woolley, B.A. Ambrose and E.R. Morgan (2014) The Architectural Complexity of Crown Bud Clusters in Gentian (Gentianaceae); Anatomy, Ontogeny and Origin. Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science. 139: 13-21. https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.139.1.13
• A. Vasco, R.C. Moran and B.A. Ambrose (2013) The evolution, morphology and development of fern leaves. Frontiers in Plant Science 4: 345. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2013.00345
• U.C. Samarakoon, K.A. Funnell, D.J. Woolley, B.A. Ambrose and E.R. Morgan (2013) Anatomical investigations determining the origin of crown buds on the transition zones of gentians. New Zealand Journal of Botany 51: 264-274. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2013.825634
• L. Gramzow, E. Barker, C. Schulz, B. Ambrose, N. Ashton, G. Theissen, A. Litt (2012) Selaginella genome analysis – entering the ‘homoplasy heaven’ of the MADS world. Frontiers in Plant Science 3: 214. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2012.00214.
• N. Pabon-Mora, B.A. Ambrose, and A. Litt (2012) Poppy APETALA1/FRUITFULL orthologs control flowering time, branching, perianth identity and fruit development. Plant Physiology 158: 1685-1704. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.111.192104
• J. Banks, T. Nishiyama, M. Hasebe, J.L. Bowman, M. Gribskov, C. dePamphilis, V.A. Albert, N. Aono, T. Aoyama, B.A. Ambrose, N.W. Ashton, M.J. Axtell, E. Barker, M.S. Barker, J.L. Bennetzen, N.D. Bonawitz, C. Chapple, C. Cheng, L. Gustavo, G. Correa, M. Dacre, J. DeBarry, I. Dreyer, M. Elias, E.M. Engstrom, M. Estelle, L. Feng, C. Finet, S.K. Floyd, W.B. Frommer, T. Fujita, L. Gramzow, M. Gutensohn, J. Harholt, M. Hattori, A. Heyl, T. Hirai, Y. Hiwatashi, M. Ishikawa, M. Iwata, K.G. Karol, B. Koehler, U. Kolukisaoglu, M. Kubo, T. Kurata, S. Lalonde, K. Li, Y. Li, A. Litt, E. Lyons, G. Manning, T. Maruyama, T.P. Michael, K. Mikami, S. Miyazaki, S. Morinaga, T. Murata, B. Mueller‐Roeber, D.R. Nelson, M. Obara, Y. Oguri, R.G. Olmstead, N. Onodera, B.L. Petersen, B. Pils, M. Prigge, S.A. Rensing, D.M Riaño-Pachón, A.W. Roberts, Y. Sato, H.V. Scheller, B. Schulz, C. Schulz, E.V. Shakirov, N. Shibagaki, N. Shinohara, D.E. Shippen, I. Sørensen, R. Sotooka, N. Sugimoto, M. Sugita, N. Sumikawa, M. Tanurdzic, G. Theißen, P. Ulvskov, S. Wakazuki, J.‐K. Weng, W.W.G.T. Willats, D. Wipf, P.G. Wolf, L. Yang, A.D. Zimmer, Q. Zhu, T. Mitros, U. Hellsten, D. Loqué, R. Otillar, A. Salamov, J. Schmutz, H. Shapiro, E. Lindquist, S. Lucas, D. Rokhsar, I.V. Grigoriev (2011) The Selaginella Genome Identifies Genetic Changes Associated with the Evolution of Vascular Plants. Science 332: 961-963. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1203810
• E.R. Álvarez-Buylla*, B.A. Ambrose*, E. Flores-Sandoval*, M. Englund, A. Garay-Arroyo, B. García-Ponce, E. de la Torre-Bárcena, S. Espinosa-Matías, E. Martínez, A. Piñeyro-Nelson, P. Engström and E.M. Meyerowitz (2010) B-function expression in the flower center underlies the homeotic phenotype of Lacandonia schismatica (Triuridaceae). Plant Cell 22: 3543-3559. *These authors contributed equally. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.109.069153
• K. Prasad and B.A. Ambrose (2010) Shaping up the fruit: control of fruit size by an Arabidopsis B-sister MADS-box gene. Plant Signaling & Behavior 5: 899-902. https://doi.org/10.4161/psb.5.7.12095
• C. Eaton, M. Cox, B. Ambrose, M. Becker, U. Hesse, C. Schardl, and B. Scott (2010) Disruption of Signaling in a Fungal-Grass Symbiosis Leads to Pathogenesis. Plant Physiology 153: 1780-1794. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.110.158451
• K. Prasad, X. Zhang, E. Tobón and B.A. Ambrose. (2010) The Arabidopsis B-sister MADS-box protein, GORDITA, represses fruit growth and contributes to integument development. The Plant Journal 62: 203-214. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-313x.2010.04139.x
• Ambrose, B.A. (2010) MADS-Box Genes in Plant Evolution and Development. International Journal of Plant Developmental Biology 4: 30-37.
• R.C. Day, R.P. Herridge, B.A. Ambrose and R.C. Macknight. (2008) Transcriptome analysis of proliferating arabidopsis endosperm reveals biological implications for the control of synctial division, cytokinin signaling and gene expression regulation. Plant Physiology 148: 1964-1984. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.108.128108
• K. May, M. Bryant, X. Zhang, B.A. Ambrose and B. Scott. (2008) Patterns of expression of a lolitrem biosynthetic gene in the Epichloë festucae – perennial ryegrass symbiosis. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. 21: 189-197. https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-21-2-0188
• B.A. Ambrose, S. Espinosa-Matías, S. Vázquez-Santana, F. Vergara-Silva, E. Martínez, J. Márquez-Guzmán and E. Alvarez-Buylla. (2006) Comparative developmental series of the Mexican triurids support an euanthial interpretation for the unusual reproductive axes of Lacandonia schismatica (Triuridaceae). Am. J. Bot. 93: 15-35.
• C.J. Whipple, P. Ciceri, C.M. Padilla, B.A. Ambrose, S.L. Bandong and R.J. Schmidt. (2004) Conservation of B-class floral homeotic gene function between maize and Arabidopsis. Development 131: 6083-6091. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.01523
• B.A. Ambrose and K. Prasad. MADS about Plant Development. (2004) NZ Bioscience (August) 8-13.
• K. Bomblies, R-L. Wang, B.A. Ambrose, R.J. Schmidt, R.B. Meeley, J. Doebley. (2003) Duplicate FLORICAULA/LEAFY homologs zfl1 and zfl2 control inflorescence architecture and flower patterning in maize. Development 130: 2385-2395. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.00457
• F. Vergara-Silva, S. Espinosa-Matías, B.A. Ambrose, S. Vázquez-Santana, A. Matînez-Mena, J. Márquez-Guzmán, E. Martínez, E.M. Meyerowitz, E. Alvarez-Buylla. (2003) Inside-out flowers characteristic of Lacandonia schismatica (Lacandoniaceae: Triuridales) evolved at least before the divergence from its sister taxon, Triuris brevistylis. Intl. J. Plant Sci. 164: 345-357. https://doi.org/10.1086/368235
• B.A. Ambrose, D.R. Lerner, P. Ciceri, C.M. Padilla, M.F. Yanofsky, and R.J. Schmidt (2000) Molecular and genetic analyses of the Silky1 gene reveal conservation in floral organ specification between eudicots and monocots. Molecular Cell 5: 569-579. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1097-2765(00)80450-5
• R.J. Schmidt and B.A. Ambrose (1998) The blooming of grass flower development. Curr. Op. In Pl. Bio. 1: 60-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1369-5266(98)80129-5
• M. Mena, B.A. Ambrose, R.B. Meeley, S.P Briggs, M.F. Yanofsky, and R.J. Schmidt (1996) Diversification of C-function activity in maize flower development. Science 274:1537-1540. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.274.5292.1537

• Barbara A. Ambrose and Michael D. Purugganan, Editors. 2013. ‘The Evolution of Plant Form’ Annual Plant Reviews 45. Wiley-Blackwell, London.
• Barbara A. Ambrose. 2013. The Morphology and Development of Lycophytes in ‘The Evolution of Plant Form’ B.A. Ambrose and M.D. Purugganan (Eds.) Annual Plant Reviews 45. Wiley-Blackwell, London.
• Barbara A. Ambrose and Cristina Ferrandiz. 2013. Development and the Evolution of Form in ‘The Evolution of Plant Form’ B.A. Ambrose and M.D. Purugganan (Eds.) Annual Plant Reviews 45. Wiley-Blackwell, London.