We spoke with the PEQG 2026 organizers to learn what sets PEQG apart, why the meeting matters, and how the experience can inspire and advance your own research.

A meeting built for weaving webs

One of the defining strengths of PEQG is its diversity of model organisms, non-model organisms, and approaches. Researchers come together from across the tree of life: flies, worms, humans, yeast, plants such as Mimulus, Arabidopsis, and Capsella, tomato, corn, and mouse, as well as marine organisms like sticklebacks and countless nontraditional models.

“Our view of what constitutes a genetics model is expanding,” notes Andrea Sweigart. “This meeting allows members of GSA’s genetics community working on any system to participate fully.”

That diversity fuels rich conversations and new insights. Chair of the Organizing Committee Rob Unckless emphasizes that plant geneticists, human geneticists, and theory-focused researchers are all well represented: “I really appreciate the solid grounding in evolutionary and population genetics among the group. It’s broad, but more focused on evolution and evolution-adjacent work.” 

Justin Fay adds that this integration is central to the meeting’s identity: “Genetics underpins diverse science but is dispersed across organisms, questions, and fields. PEQG brings people who work on different organisms together but share common interests in how mutation, selection, and population history shape variation. Perhaps even more important is the degree of integration between theory and empirical data. Theory without data is speculation, and data without theory is chaos.”

Kirk Lohmueller agrees: “PEQG integrates theory and modeling with empirical data analysis really well. I like how the meeting doesn’t focus on any one organism. Many attendees work on non-model organisms too, and PEQG provides a shared focus on evolutionary processes using a wide diversity of organisms and approaches.”

What happens when you meet people who study different systems?

For many researchers, one of the biggest draws is the opportunity to see familiar scientific problems through entirely new lenses.

“Meeting people who work on similar problems in different organisms is incredibly valuable,” says Amanda Larracuente. “You might find yourself discussing theoretical aspects with one person and then shortly after talking with someone who studies the same problem in plants or mice. These conversations reveal parallels across systems and broaden how we think about our own work.”

Rob adds that this diversity of perspective helps researchers see problems from different angles—an essential ingredient for collaboration and innovation. These interactions often lead to new ways of approaching long-standing questions, new collaborations, and sometimes, new breakthroughs.

Why this research matters

Population, evolutionary, and quantitative genetics sit at the heart of many real-world challenges: understanding disease risk, improving crops, conserving biodiversity, interpreting genomic variation, and predicting how organisms will adapt to changing environments. “These are the branches of biology that provide the foundation for understanding evolution, including adaptation to changing environments, the genetic basis of complex traits, and the origins of biodiversity,” says Yasir Ahmed.

PEQG is where the scientists driving this work come together to share tools, approaches, data, and ideas. It’s a community deeply invested in connecting theoretical foundations with empirical evidence, which is an essential combination for solving real-life problems.

A truly unique conference experience

When asked what makes PEQG a can’t-miss meeting, nearly everyone had the same answer: the people, the community.

Kirk highlights the meeting’s format: “PEQG provides an excellent environment where you can really interact with all the attendees. There is only one session at a time, which creates a focused and less chaotic experience. Talks from trainees are outstanding and showcase many of our best future leaders.”

Andrea echoes this: “It’s small enough to have only one session at a time but broad enough that talks are diverse. It’s cutting-edge—I learn a ton from colleagues pushing the boundaries of evolutionary theory and genetic analyses. This is my favorite meeting.”

Amanda emphasizes how vast scientifically the meeting is and how welcoming the community is: “It’s large enough to capture the breadth of evolutionary and quantitative geneticists working across diverse systems, yet small enough that it’s easy to find people and have discussions. It’s a fantastic meeting for trainees or anyone looking to network and pick up new skills.”

Join us at PEQG 2026!

If you’re ready to connect with researchers who share your passion for population, evolutionary, and quantitative genetics—and if you want an environment where theory, empirical data, and diverse systems come together seamlessly—PEQG is the place to be.

Submit your abstract, register, and bring your questions, your data, and your curiosity. We can’t wait to see you at Asilomar! 

Learn more, submit an abstract, and register for PEQG 2026.

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