Gregory L. Owens

Gregory L. Owens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Victoria. He leads the Owens Lab, which specializes in evolutionary genomics and conservation biology research focusing on sunflowers, kelp, and rockfish. His work integrates genomic approaches with ecological and evolutionary questions to understand adaptation and speciation processes.

Dr. Owens completed his MSc in Biology at the University of Victoria studying opsin gene expression in the four-eyed fish Anableps anableps. He then earned a PhD in Botany from the University of British Columbia, where he used genomics to study hybridization in sunflowers. Following this, he received the prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship to work on structural variation in sunflowers at the University of California, Berkeley.

His research spans several key areas of evolutionary genomics. In sunflower research, he investigates the genomic basis of adaptation and speciation, with particular interest in hybridization, introgression, and the role of chromosomal inversions in adaptation. His lab has demonstrated that introgression is common between multiple sunflower species and that inversions play a crucial role in adaptation. In marine systems, his lab works with the Kelp Rescue Initiative to build genomic resources for kelp conservation, including chromosome-scale genomes for Macrocystis and Nereocystis. Additionally, his lab develops genomic resources for rockfish species to explore population connectivity, adaptation across latitudinal gradients, and the genetic basis of extreme lifespans.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on structural genomic variation, particularly inversions, and their role in adaptation across diverse systems. His work demonstrates how chromosomal rearrangements facilitate parallel evolution and adaptation to environmental challenges. His research spans both plant and marine systems, showing remarkable versatility in applying genomic approaches to fundamental evolutionary questions.

His scientific accomplishments include the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. His publications appear in high-impact journals including Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Molecular Biology and Evolution, and Current Biology.

Dr. Owens actively mentors students at various levels. His current lab includes Martin Liu (MSc student studying population genomics of a rare endemic Lupine species) and Jordan Bemmels (Postdoctoral Researcher studying population genetic structure in British Columbia kelp species). His former students include Kaede Hirabayashi (now Research Associate at UBC), Nathan Sykes (MSc), Koa Planedin (Honours), and Sara Wuitchick (now Assistant Professor at Mount Royal University). He has also supervised numerous directed studies students and undergraduate research associates.

The Owens Lab maintains active collaborations with the Rieseberg Lab at UBC and participates in the Kelp Rescue Initiative. His lab combines field work, genomic analyses, and computational approaches to address fundamental questions in evolutionary biology and conservation genomics.