My research focuses on the use of phylogenetic and bioinformatic tools for molecular systematics. I have incorporated phylogeny-based approaches to study the evolutionary value of taxa and ecosystems, with a focus on aiding conservation efforts

Current Ph.D Students

Daniela Mardones Agurto PhD (c)
CONICYT Fellow
Doctorado en Ciencias Mención Ecología y Biología Evolutiva
Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile

Constanza Schapheer
CONICYT Fellow
Doctorado en Ciencias Silvoagropecuarias y Veterinarias
Universidad de Chile

Post doctoral Fellows
Taryn Fuentes-Castillo
2017-2020
CONICYT 223323 International Cooperation Program “Integrating molecular and spatial modeling approaches in new world Mediterranean flora: A multiscale study for understanding evolutionary relationships in Central Chile and California, two endemic-rich biodiversity hotspots”

Symposia and talks
• Scherson, R.A. Contributions of evolutionary biology to the conservation of the flora of Chile. Online Seminar, Chilean Evolutionary Society SOCEVOL. Octubre 27 2020.
• Scherson, R.A. Contributions of Phylogenetic Diversity to plant conservation. Chicago Northwestern University, June 19 2020.
• Scherson, R.A. Evolutionary value of the flora of the Atacama Desert. Pamela Ramírez, Rosa Scherson. Simposio “Biogeografía, Disyunciones, interacciones en Márgenes Desérticos”. August 27 - 29 2019. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
Scherson, R.A.,Taryn Fuentes-Castillo; Patricio Pliscoff; Roman Mari?a Jose?; Bruce Baldwin; Matthew Kling;
Andrew Thornhill; David Ackerly; Brent Mishler. Comparative spatial phylogenetics between Mediterranean
Chile and California. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. October 2019.
• Scherson, R.A., Rami?rez, P. Evolutionary value of the flora of the Atacama Desert. Pontificia Universidad Cato?lica
de Valparai?so, Valparai?so, Chile, August 2019.
• Scherson, R.A. Diversidad Filogene?tica en Biomas Chilenos y Conservacio?n. Universidad Metropolitana de
Ciencias de la Educacio?n. Sept 2018.
• Scherson, R.A. Phylogenetic diversity measures in the native flora of Chile. University of Bonn, Germany, June
2018
• Scherson, R.A., Thornhill, A., Freyman, Will, Pliscoff, P., Baldwin, B., Ackerly, D. Brent D. Mishler. Spatial
phylogenetics of the native vascular flora in Mediterranean Chile. MEDECOS, Seville, Spain Jan 31- Feb 4 2017.
• Scherson. R.A. Phylogenetic endemism and is patterns in the vascular flora of Chile. Chilean Botanical Society
Conference, Concon, Chile, Nov 5-8 2016.
• Urbina-Casanova, R., Freyman, W., Thornhill, A., Mishler, B. Scherson, R.A (presenter). Phylogenetic diversity and
endemism in the vascular flora of Chile. Symposium "Phylogeny-based biodiversity assessments for conservation: perspectives from the Southern Hemisphere", VIII Southern Connection Congress, Punta Arenas, Chile. January 18-23 2016.
• Scherson, R.A., Urbina-Casanova, R., Carvallo, G., Pinochet, C., Pliscoff, P., Kalin-Arroyo, M. Phylogeny-based biodiversity assessment in the Chilean flora. Symposium "Phylogenetic approaches to understanding biodiversity and endemism", Botany Conference 2015, Botanical Society of America, Edmonton, Canada. July 25-29 2015.

CURRENT AFFILIATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
• 2010 up to date, Botanical Society of America
• 2018 up to date. Representative of the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Nature Conservation for the Office of
Gender Equality of the University of Chile, Santiago.
• 2018 up to date. President of the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Nature Conservation committee for gender
issues.
• 2018 up to date. BioGenesis working group – Future Earth Global Network
• 2019 up to date. Phylogenetic Diversity Task Force, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• 2019 up to date. Scientific Committee, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) International.
• 2019 up to date. Scientific Committee, working group for United Nations COP25 meeting in Chile.