Robert S. Boyd headshot
Robert S. Boyd
Department of Biological Sciences
Professor and Assistant Provost for Institutional Effectiveness


Office: 249 Science Center Classrooms

Address: 315 Roosevelt Concourse, Science Center Classrooms Building
COSAM

Phone: (334) 844-1626

Email: boydrob@auburn.edu


Education
Ph.D. - Botany, University of California, Davis
1986
M.S. - Biology, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California
1979
B.S. - Biology (summa cum laude), California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California
1977
A.A. - Pre-medicine, Mount San Antonio College, Walnut, California
1974


Professional Employment
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Sciences and Mathematics
July 2019 - present
Interim Chair, Department of Biological Sciences
August 2015-December 2015
Undergraduate Program Officer, Department of Biological Sciences
August 2013-June 2019
Mellon Visiting Scholar, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and Claremont Graduate University
August 2001-December 2001
Professor and Full Member of the Graduate Faculty, Department of Biological Sciences
August 2000-present
Coordinator, General Biology Program
January 1995-March 2000
Associate Professor and Full Member of the Graduate Faculty, Department of Botany and Microbiology
September 1993-August 2000
Assistant Professor, Department of Botany and Microbiology and Associate Member of the Graduate Faculty
September 1988-September 1993


Honors and Awards
AU College of Sciences and Mathematics Dean’s Faculty Service/Outreach Award
2019
2017-2021 AU Alumni Professor
2017-2021
Student Government Association’s COSAM Faculty Member of the Year
2017-2018
Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed President Award for Excellence in Teaching
2016
AU Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award
2012
Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award. AU Graduate School
2010
Learning Community (LC) Coordinator of the Year. AU LC Activities Board
2010
AU College of Sciences and Mathematics Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award
2009
AU Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award
1998-1999
AU College of Sciences and Mathematics Dean’s Award for Outstanding Teaching
1999


Research and Teaching Interests

Research: Ecology of metal hyperaccumulation by plants, natural history and management of rare Southeastern plant species.

Teaching: Conservation Biology, Ecology (incl. Plant Ecology)


Selected Publications

1) Boyd, R., C. Basgier, and C. Wilson. 2020. Repurposing scientific writing in conservation biology. Prompt: A Journal of Academic Writing Assignments 4.1 2020:3-17.

2) Pullman, G.S., K. Bai, M. Hane, D. Ruland, J.M. Cruse-Sanders, R.S. Boyd, and S. Johnson. 2019. Seed cryopreservation and micropropagation of the federally threatened species, Price’s Potato-bean (Apios priceana B.L. Robins.). In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Plant 55:558-568.

3) Echevarria, G., A. Baker, R. Boyd, A. van der Ent, T. Mizuno, N. Rajakaruna, S. Sakaguchi and A. Bani. 2018. A global forum on ultramafic ecosystems: from ultramafic ecology to rehabilitation of degraded environments. Ecological Research 33:517-522.

4) Mincey, K.A. and R.S. Boyd. 2018. Elemental defense of nickel hyperaccumulator seeds against a generalist insect granivore. Ecological Research 33:561-570.

5) Ghasemi, R., H. Share, R. Sharifi and R.S. Boyd. 2018. Inducing Ni sensitivity in the Ni hyperaccumulator plant Alyssum inflatum Nyárády (Brassicaceae) by transforming with CAX1, a vacuolar membrane calcium transporter. Ecological Research 33:737-747.

6) Mincey, K.A., P.A. Cobine and R.S. Boyd. 2018. Nickel hyperaccumulation by Streptanthus polygaloides is associated with herbivory tolerance. Ecological Research 33:571-580.

7) Paris, N.J., and R.S. Boyd. 2018. Floral biology of the federally threatened Apios priceana (Fabaceae). Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 145:163-174.

8) Paris, N.J., J.M. Cruse-Sanders and R.S. Boyd. 2018. Propagation by cuttings of the federally threatened Apios priceana (Fabaceae). Castanea 83:77-87.

9) Wiggers, M.S., J.K. Hiers, A. Barnett, R.S. Boyd and L.K. Kirkman. 2017. Seed heat tolerance and germination of six legume species native to a fire-prone longleaf pine forest. Plant Ecology 218:151-171

Google Scholar Page


Courses
Undergraduate Graduate
Conservation Biology Learning Community - UNIV1100
Organismal Biology - BIOL1030
Introduction to Biology - BIOL1000
Principles of Ecology - BIOL3060
Senior Seminar - BIOL 4950
Conservation Biology - BIOL5090
Plant Ecology - BIOL5140
Conservation Biology - BIOL6090
Plant Ecology - BIOL6140
Plant-Animal Interactions - BIOL7560




Last updated: 09/06/2023