Hendrik-Jan Megens is an Assistant Professor in the Animal Breeding and Genomics group at Wageningen University & Research. He works at the interface of bioinformatics, functional genomics, and population and conservation genomics to understand how organisms adapt—and what happens when genetic diversity is lost. Building on a strong track record in studying adaptation and inbreeding in domesticated animals, he now applies these insights and strategies to wild fish populations. His research is driven by large-scale genomic datasets that illuminate processes across scales, from species-wide adaptation to inbreeding in small stream populations. Central to his approach is close collaboration with ecologists and governmental and NGO partners to ensure genomic tools translate into practical, high-impact conservation decisions.
