William Weaver

PhD Candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan.

Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Education

University of Michigan

Sep 2019 - Present
PhD Candidate - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

University of Colorado Boulder

Sep 2013 - May 2017
BA Double Major - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Environmental Studies

Work Experience

Curatorial Assistant

University of Michigan

Sep 2021 - Aug 2024

NSF Graduate Research Fellow

University of Michigan

Sep 2019 - Present

Graduate Student Instructor

Teaching various biology courses and leading summer camps. Conducting research in ecology and evolutionary biology.

Professional Research Assistant

Developed computer vision and machine learning algorithms for trait extraction from herbarium specimens.
Researched Gauss-peak spectral deconvolution for algal pigment analyses and assisted with modeling carbon assimilation.

Colorado State Senate
Internship

Jan 2017 - May 2017

Policy Research Intern

Researched energy and environmental legislation, drafted bill packets, and managed community outreach.

Laboratory Technician

Operated analytical equipment, conducted water quality analyses, and collected field data.

Research Assistant

Conducted genetic sequencing and large-scale analysis for plant species trait evolution research.

Preservationist – Archives and Special Collections

Assisted with preservation efforts and performed minor repairs on books and media.

Skills

Machine Learning
Computer Vision
Large Language Models
Hugging Face
Python
R
Matlab
C++
Web Development

Publications

7.

A global blueberry phylogeny: Evolution, diversification, and biogeography of Vaccinieae (Ericaceae)

2024
Article has an altmetric score for A global blueberry phylogeny: Evolution, diversification, and biogeography of Vaccinieae (Ericaceae)

Anna L. Becker, Andrew A. Crowl, James L. Luteyn, Andre S. Chanderbali, Walter S. Judd, Paul S. Manos, Pamela S. Soltis, Douglas E. Soltis, Stephen A. Smith, Deise J.P. Goncalves, Christopher W. Dick, William N. Weaver, Nico Cellinese, Peter W. Fritsch

 

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108202

Link to Publication
6.

From leaves to labels: Building modular machine learning networks for rapid herbarium specimen analysis with LeafMachine2

2023
Article has an altmetric score for From leaves to labels: Building modular machine learning networks for rapid herbarium specimen analysis with LeafMachine2

William N. Weaver, Stephen A. Smith

 

Applications in Plant Sciences

DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11548

Link to Publication
5.

FieldPrism: A system for creating snapshot vouchers from field images using photogrammetric markers and QR codes

2023
Article has an altmetric score for FieldPrism: A system for creating snapshot vouchers from field images using photogrammetric markers and QR codes

William N. Weaver, Stephen A. Smith

 

Applications in Plant Sciences

DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11545

Link to Publication
4.

Herbarium specimen label transcription reimagined with large language models: Capabilities, productivity, and risks

2023
Article has an altmetric score for Herbarium specimen label transcription reimagined with large language models: Capabilities, productivity, and risks

William N. Weaver, Brad R. Ruhfel, Kyle J. Lough, Stephen A. Smith

 

American Journal of Botany

DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16256

Link to Publication
3.

The Future of Natural History Transcription: Navigating AI advancements with VoucherVision and the Specimen Label Transcription Project (SLTP)

2023
Article has an altmetric score for The Future of Natural History Transcription: Navigating AI advancements with VoucherVision and the Specimen Label Transcription Project (SLTP)

William N. Weaver, Brad R. Ruhfel, Kyle J. Lough, Stephen A. Smith

 

Biodiversity Information Science and Standards

DOI: 10.3897/biss.7.113067

Link to Publication
2.

LeafMachine: Using machine learning to automate leaf trait extraction from digitized herbarium specimens

2020
Article has an altmetric score for LeafMachine: Using machine learning to automate leaf trait extraction from digitized herbarium specimens

William N. Weaver, Julienne Ng, Robert G. Laport

 

Applications in Plant Sciences

DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11367

Link to Publication
1.

Testing Darwin's Naturalization Conundrum using phylogenetic relationships: generalizable patterns across disparate communities?

2018
Article has an altmetric score for Testing Darwin's Naturalization Conundrum using phylogenetic relationships: generalizable patterns across disparate communities?

Julienne Ng, William N. Weaver, Robert G. Laport

 

Diversity and Distributions

DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12861

Link to Publication

Teaching

WISE-GISE Summer Camp

Summer 2023, 2024

Instructor

Developed full-day curriculum for summer camp to teach middle schoolers about botany, leaf architecture, biodiversity, and machine learning.
Taught Frontiers Masters students how to identify common Michigan plant species.

BIO 171 - Introduction to Biology
Three sections

Fall 2020

Graduate Student Instructor

Graduate Student Instructor

Oral Presentations

Poster Presentations

Hosted Workshops

Total Secured Funding: $211,098

Grants and Fellowships

Professional Affiliations