Bill Cresko uses quantitative genomics to understand how molecular genetic variation can modify networks of genes and proteins to produce variation in evolutionarily important traits, as well as diseases in humans such as cancer. In addition to serving as Lorry Lokey Chair and professor of bioengineering, he is director of the Center for Biomedical Data Science, a core member of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution (IE2) and an affiliate member of the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB). He previously served as the executive director of the Presidential Initiative in Data Science and associate vice president for research.

The Cresko Lab is well known for developing genomic tools and super-computing software that are now used by thousands of scientists around the world. With these papers, Cresko has provided a conceptual and empirical roadmap that is now being used by researchers around the world. His group was foundational to the development of the field of population genomics. They have produced the first chromosomal level whole genome sequence for a syngnathid (seahorses, pipefish and seadragons) and are pioneering studies of host-microbe interactions in stickleback and syngnathids. Cresko has recently partnered with colleagues in UO’s Prevention Science Institute to help mitigate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing accessible to virus testing across Oregon.

To help train the next generation of molecular ecologists, Cresko founded a graduate program in Genomics and Bioinformatics, which is now part of the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program. In 2016 Cresko was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of his contributions to science. Cresko’s group has published over 120 papers that have been cited tens of thousands of times.

Cresko received his bachelor’s degree in biology (cum laude) from the University of Pennsylvania and his Ph.D. in biology from Clark University.