Dr. Mai Morshidi Phillips
 

Senior Scientist, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

B.S. (Mathematics) University of Iowa

M.A. (Environmental, Population, & Organismic Biology)

 University of Colorado  

Dr. Phillips was born and raised on the island of Borneo (Sarawak, Malaysia), one of the world�s greatest hot spots of biodiversity.  Dr. Phillips came to the United States and earned a BS degree in mathematics at the University of Iowa and a MA in plant ecology at the University of Colorado.  Dr. Phillips then returned to Malaysia to work as an assistant professor of biology at Universiti Putra Malaysia, where she taught undergraduate general botany and zoology courses. In these courses, Dr. Phillips incorporated the conservation of genetic resources and initiated research on conservation of various fruit species native to Borneo. Dr. Phillips was the recipient of an East-West Center doctoral scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Hawaii.

Dr. Phillips earned a Ph.D. in plant genetic resources, which focused on genetic conservation and molecular systematic of papaya (Carica papaya), a commercially important crop of the tropics, and its wild relatives. Her dissertation research encompassed not only the native range of Carica papaya as a species but its related wild species in the area of greatest diversity in Central America and the Andean region.

After completing her Ph.D., an opportunity to expand her academic career interests in conservation of plant genetic resources, molecular genetics, systematic and conservation biology of tropical biodiversity occurred when she was recruited by the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to teach and conduct plant genetic research in Borneo.  

In Borneo, Dr. Phillips's research focused on conservation biology and molecular genetics of endemic and economically important plants. She collaborated on a UNIMAS research grant to assess genetic variability in endemic hardwoods in tropical lowland rainforests and peat swamp wetlands to undergird conservation and restoration efforts underway in Borneo.  Also, Dr. Phillips participated in a committee to advise federal and state planners on various policy matters including biodiversity conservation and the establishment of a biotechnology center in Sarawak.

Here at UWSP, Dr. Phillips continues to focus her research on breeding poplars for phytoremediation of atrazine in Wisconsin, genecology and plant genetic resources conservation in Borneo (Malaysia) and the Americas. She is actively involved in developing on-line courses in plant resources and forestry.