Michael Werner

Michael Werner is an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah's Department of Biological Sciences. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity, particularly how environmental cues translate into developmental, physiological, and morphological changes through epigenetic regulation. He combines molecular biology, evolutionary biology, and environmental science to study these processes in nematodes.

• Education: B.S. from Stetson University, Ph.D. from University of Chicago

Werner's research explores chromatin biology, histone modifications, and gene regulatory networks in nematodes. His work has revealed key epigenetic mechanisms—such as histone acetylation and chromatin-enriched lncRNAs—that enable developmental plasticity and environmental adaptation.

His recent publications (2023-2025) emphasize transcriptomic responses to environmental stimuli, evolutionary loss of epigenetic complexes, and hypersaline adaptation in novel nematode species. These studies span developmental biology, molecular genetics, and ecological resilience.