Jason Holliday

Jason Holliday is a Professor at Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. He specializes in understanding the genomic basis of climatic adaptation in forest trees. His work integrates 'next gen' sequencing, common garden experiments, and landscape genomics to study traits like cold hardiness and drought tolerance in species such as poplar, spruce, and pine.

Education: B.S., University of Victoria (2001); Ph.D., University of British Columbia (2009).

Research focuses on predicting adaptation potential under climate change, enhancing conservation genetics, and improving forest productivity through genome-enabled breeding. Key projects include the NSF-funded CAREER grant on Populus adaptation and the USDA Climate Change Coordinated Agriculture Project.

Current grants include leadership on NSF Plant Genome Research Program projects and co-PI roles in USDA and Genome Canada initiatives. His lab develops innovative tools like focused ultrasound extraction (FUSE) for non-destructive DNA sampling and applies genomic strategies to restore American chestnut populations.

Grant and advising activities include training in plant population genomics and forest genetics. The lab actively collaborates on forest health initiatives, bridging ecological genomics with practical applications in conservation and sustainable forestry.