2026 Fellows Award recipient for the Outstanding St. Louis Scientists Awards
Dr. Wes Warren is a Curators’ Professor of Genomics in the Division of Animal Sciences, Department of Surgery, and the Data Science and Informatics Institute at the University of Missouri.
A globally recognized leader in comparative genomics, Dr. Warren has spent over 30 years advancing our understanding of genome evolution and function through highly impactful research. Beginning his career in reproductive physiology, Dr. Warren went on to provide insightful interpretations of whole-genome analyses across a remarkably diverse range of species. His discovery of the zebra finch genes associated with vocal learning during his tenure at Washington University’s McDonnell Genome Institute garnered global attention, including a feature story on ABC Nightly News.
In another landmark achievement, he led the first wholegenome characterization of the platypus, that provided a foundation for understanding mammalian evolution and was featured in The New York Times. He has served as principal investigator, co-investigator, or key personnel on numerous USDA, NSF, and NIH-funded projects, producing integrative resources that underpin computational approaches to understanding the molecular features of traits.
Author of over 225 peer-reviewed publications, his discoveries have earned 11 journal covers in Nature and Science. At Missouri, Dr. Warren’s research currently explores biology at the cellular level, integrating single-cell and multiomic technologies to reveal the genetic bases of adaptation and disease resilience. This ongoing work promises to transform our single cell understanding of life, illuminating the once-ambiguous pathways that connect genes to the traits they govern.