Cresko Laboratory
We study the genomic basis of evolutionary change. Our research combines field studies, laboratory experiments, and computational approaches to understand how organisms adapt to changing environments
Research Areas
Parallel Evolution & Adaptation — We study how independent populations evolve similar solutions to environmental challenges to understand the genetic architecture of adaptive traits.
Functional Evolutionary Genetics - We study how gene regulatory networks function in variable environments, and evolve in diverse lineages using approaches such as single cell sequencing and CRISPR
Host-Microbiome Dynamics — We explore how host genetic variation shapes microbial communities and how these interactions influence adaptation.
Genomic Tool Development — We developed RAD-seq technology and the Stacks software pipeline, now used by thousands of researchers worldwide for population genomics analyses.
Learn more about our research →
Publications
- Single cell analysis of syngnathids (eLife 2025)
- Host genomic variation shapes gut microbiome diversity (mBio 2023)
- Seadragon genomes reveal syngnathid evolution (PNAS 2022)
- Single-cell sequencing for genome annotation (Genetics 2022)
News
- Ethan Contreras presents research at SACNAS
- Bill Cresko awarded Lorry Lokey Endowed Chair
- Hope Healey successfully defends her dissertation!
- Emily Niebergall receives Goldwater Fellowship
Team
Our lab includes research scientists, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduates working together on evolutionary genomic questions.
Join Us
I welcome inquiries from prospective graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduates interested in:
Contact
William A. Cresko, Ph.D.
Institute of Ecology and Evolution
University of Oregon
312 Pacific Hall
Eugene, OR 97403