William Weaver, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan
Education
University of Michigan
Sep 2019 - Jul 2025
PhD - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Colorado Boulder
Sep 2013 - May 2017
BA Double Major - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Environmental Studies
Fellowships
Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship
Aug 2025 - Present
Schmidt Sciences | Michigan Institute for Data and AI in Society (MIDAS)
National Science Foundation
Work Experience
Schmidt Sciences, Michigan Institute for Data and AI in Society (MIDAS)
Aug 2025 - Present
Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship
University of Michigan Herbarium
Sep 2024 - Dec 2024
Curatorial Assistant
University of Michigan
Sep 2021 - Aug 2024
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
University of Michigan
Sep 2019 - Jul 2025
Graduate Student Instructor
BIO 171 Introduction to Biology | BIO 173 Introduction to Biology Lab | EEB 500 Woody Plants Identification LabLink
University of Colorado Boulder
Mar 2018 - Aug 2019
Professional Research Assistant
Developed computer vision and machine learning methods to automate phenotypic trait extraction from digitized herbarium specimens.Link
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science
Mar 2018 - Apr 2019
Associate Scientist
Developed Gaussian peak-deconvolution methods for algal pigment analysis and modeled carbon assimilation.
Colorado State SenateInternship
Jan 2017 - May 2017
Policy Research Intern
Researched energy and environmental policy, prepared legislative bill materials, and coordinated constituent and community outreach.Link
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science
Sep 2015 - Mar 2018
Laboratory Technician
Conducted water-quality analyses, operated analytical instrumentation, and supported field sampling and environmental data collection.
University of Colorado Boulder
Sep 2015 - Feb 2018
Research Assistant
Performed genetic sequencing and large-scale comparative analyses to investigate the evolution of plant functional traits.Link
University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
Aug 2013 - May 2016
Preservationist – Archives and Special Collections
Preserved archival and special-collections materials through condition assessment, preventive conservation, and repair of books and media.
Skills
Machine Learning
Computer Vision
Large Language Models
Hugging Face
Python
R
Matlab
C++
Web Development
Projects
LeafMachine2
leafmachine.org
Modular machine learning networks for rapid herbarium specimen analysis.
Machine Learning
Python
TensorFlow
FieldPrism
fieldprism.org
System for creating snapshot vouchers from field images using photogrammetric markers and QR codes.
Machine Learning
Python
Computer Vision
Android
iOS
VoucherVision
leafmachine.orgvouchervisiongo/
AI system for automated transcription of herbarium specimen labels.
Machine Learning
Python
NLP
VoucherVisionGO Editor
github.comGene-Weaver/VoucherVisionGO-Editor/releases
An Electron app for reviewing VoucherVisionGO transcriptions.
Electron
TypeScript
Herbarium Specimen Label Transcription Project
huggingface.coSLTP
Collaborative project focused on creating LLM training datasets for natural history applications.
Machine Learning
Python
NLP
LLMs
LeafMachine
doi.org10.1002/aps3.11367
Using machine learning to automate leaf trait extraction from digitized herbarium specimens.
Machine Learning
Matlab
Computer Vision
Datasets
Loading datasets...
Publications
15.
State of the World's Plants and Fungi 2026
2026
Alexandre Antonelli, C. Fry, Rhian J. Smith, ..., Thais Vasconcelos, William N. Weaver, ..., Xing-Jiang Song
Royal Botanic Gardens
DOI: 10.34885/rdzs-ky83
Link to Publication14.
The Euler Characteristic Transform Enables Classification of Complex Plant Shapes and Prediction of Leaf Venation from Blade Geometry
2026
Yemeen Ayub, Sarah McGuire-Scullen, Sarah Percival, William N. Weaver, Nischal Karki, ..., Elizabeth Munch, Daniel H. Chitwood
Preprint
DOI: 10.64898/2026.04.13.718293
Link to Publication13.
Longevity in plants impacts phylogenetic and population dynamics
2026
Stephen A. Smith, James B. Pease, Tom Carruthers, Gideon S. Bradburd, Indah B. Huegele, Gregory W. Stull, William N. Weaver, Yingying Yang, Ting-Shuang Yi, Jeremy M. Beaulieu
New Phytologist
DOI: 10.1111/nph.70654
Link to Publication12.
Dominance of plasticity in wind-pollinated trees' flowering time response to temperature
2025
Yi Liu, Yiluan Song, William N. Weaver, Kerby Shedden, Yang Chen, Stephen A. Smith, Kai Zhu
Preprint
DOI: 10.1101/2025.08.26.672405
Link to Publication11.
The Marginality Manifesto: Computational Morphometrics of Half a Million Herbarium Specimens Reveals Lineage-Specific Evolutionary Dynamics in Climate-Leaf Trait Relationships
2025
10.
Automated extraction of leaf mass per area from digitized herbarium specimens
2025
Thais Vasconcelos, William N. Weaver, Aly Baumgartner, Zoe Bugnaski, and James Boyko
New Phytologist
DOI: 10.1111/nph.70292
Link to Publication9.
The development of BSA’s comprehensive AI policy for its academic journals
2024
Teresa M. Culley, Irene Cobo-Simón, Robert L. Baker, Aaron S. David, Matthew A. Gitzendanner, Matthew S. Olson, Tilottama Roy, William N. Weaver, Pamela Diggle, and Briana Gross
Plant Science Bulletin
DOI: PSB 70 (3) 2024
Link to Publication8.
Repeated shifts out of tropical climates preceded by whole genome duplication
2024
Tom Carruthers, Deise J. P. Gonçalves, Pan Li, Andre S. Chanderbali, Christopher W. Dick, Peter W. Fritsch, Drew A. Larson, Douglas E. Soltis, Pamela S. Soltis, William N. Weaver, Stephen A. Smith
New Phytologist
DOI: 10.1111/nph.20200
Link to Publication7.
A global blueberry phylogeny: Evolution, diversification, and biogeography of Vaccinieae (Ericaceae)
2024
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 Publication6.
From leaves to labels: Building modular machine learning networks for rapid herbarium specimen analysis with LeafMachine2
2023
William N. Weaver, Stephen A. Smith
Applications in Plant Sciences
DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11548
Link to Publication5.
FieldPrism: A system for creating snapshot vouchers from field images using photogrammetric markers and QR codes
2023
William N. Weaver, Stephen A. Smith
Applications in Plant Sciences
DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11545
Link to Publication4.
Herbarium specimen label transcription reimagined with large language models: Capabilities, productivity, and risks
2023
William N. Weaver, Brad R. Ruhfel, Kyle J. Lough, Stephen A. Smith
American Journal of Botany
DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16256
Link to Publication3.
The Future of Natural History Transcription: Navigating AI advancements with VoucherVision and the Specimen Label Transcription Project (SLTP)
2023
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 Publication2.
LeafMachine: Using machine learning to automate leaf trait extraction from digitized herbarium specimens
2020
William N. Weaver, Julienne Ng, Robert G. Laport
Applications in Plant Sciences
DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11367
Link to Publication1.
Testing Darwin's Naturalization Conundrum using phylogenetic relationships: generalizable patterns across disparate communities?
2018
Julienne Ng, William N. Weaver, Robert G. Laport
Diversity and Distributions
DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12861
Link to PublicationTeaching
Instructor
Michigan Institute for Data and AI in Society. Introduction to supervised and unsupervised machine learning.Link
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.Link
EEB 500 - Woody Plants Identification Lab
Summer 2021
Guest Lecturer
Taught Frontiers Masters students how to identify common Michigan plant species.Link
BIO 171 - Introduction to BiologyThree sections
Fall 2020
Graduate Student Instructor
BIO 173 - Introduction to Biology LabTwo sections
Fall 2019
Graduate Student Instructor
Service
Committee for AI and Publications
2023 — 2024
Botanical Society of America
Committee Publication