John Lees

John Lees serves as a Researcher in the Department of Organismal Biology; Physiology and Environmental Toxicology at Uppsala University's Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC), where he investigates physiological and morphological constraints on species adaptation using molecular, biomechanical, and physiological techniques. His work primarily employs avian models but seeks broadly applicable biological principles.

Lees' research centers on metabolism and biomechanics, examining how environmental stressors influence adaptation, behavior, and physiological responses. His methodology integrates epigenetic analysis, metabolic measurement, and biomechanical testing to uncover fundamental rules governing vertebrate biology, with particular emphasis on energy regulation, locomotion mechanics, and stress-induced molecular changes in birds.

Analysis of his 2010-2023 publications reveals consistent focus on avian physiology and biomechanics, evolving from locomotion energetics in extreme environments (e.g., Svalbard ptarmigan winter adaptation) toward molecular mechanisms like mitoepigenomic stress responses and fasting-induced gene expression changes. His work demonstrates increasing integration of genomics with whole-organism physiology while maintaining core biomechanical investigations of flight and terrestrial movement.

Based at Uppsala's Evolutionary Biology Centre, Lees collaborates across disciplines including genomics, neuroendocrinology, and aerodynamics, as evidenced by co-authorship patterns. His research environment supports integrative studies of environmental interactions, leveraging both field measurements and laboratory techniques to address fundamental questions in organismal biology.