Naomi Fast

Naomi Fast is an Associate Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Science. Her research examines genome evolution in single-celled eukaryotes, particularly focusing on how genome reduction affects intron architecture and spliceosome machinery in microsporidian parasites.

Using comparative genomics approaches, Fast's lab investigates the retention and modification of introns in highly compacted genomes. Her work has revealed fundamental insights into the evolutionary trajectories of spliceosomal components under extreme genomic constraints. Current research compares splicing mechanisms across diverse eukaryotic lineages including extremophilic red algae.

Fast supervises graduate students studying microsporidian genomics and eukaryotic evolution. Her research has been published in leading molecular evolution journals including Molecular Biology and Evolution.