Tia-Lynn Ashman earned the Botanical Society of America’s highest honor

Distinguished Professor of Evolution and Ecology Tia-Lynn Ashman has been named a distinguished fellow of the Botanical Society of America (BSA), the highest honor bestowed upon the society’s professional members.

A faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences in Pitt’s Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Ashman was recognized for her contributions to plant science, mentoring and global scientific collaboration. She has amassed more than 220 publications and 21,000 citations, advancing the field of evolutionary ecology of plant production.

Her nomination letter for the award read: “A defining characteristic of Tia-Lynn’s approach to science is her ability to see both the big picture and the fine details with remarkable clarity. She is a visionary, pushing the boundaries of scientific inquiry while maintaining exceptional rigor in her work. This is exemplified by her pioneering research on the floral virome, where she identified novel viral interactions and placed them in the broader context of plant ecology and evolution.”

Ashman was also recognized for her work in mentoring and community-building. She has led major international collaborations and working groups on topics like pollen limitation, emergent sex chromosomes and pollination in biodiversity hotspots to help advance not only understanding of the field, but also the careers of future generations of scientists.

“Her former students and postdoctoral researchers now thrive in academia, government and science communication roles, often citing her high standards and unwavering support as pivotal to their success,” said the BSA announcement.

Ashman will be recognized as part of the new class during July’s Fellows at the Botany 2025 conference in Palm Springs, Florida.