
Assistant Professor • Publications
Institute for Behavioral Genetics • Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Institute for Behavioral Genetics
University of Colorado Boulder
447 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0447
Research Interests:
Methods for estimating heritability and investigating genomic architecture of complex traits. Recent work focuses on the heritability and genetic architecture of psychiatric disorders.
Active Grants:
- NIH/NIA 1 R01 AG046938-06 (PI: Reynolds) Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan Behavioral Development & Cognitive Aging (CATSLife2). Role: Co-Investigator
- NIH/NIDA 1 R01 DA044283-01 (PI: Vrieze) Deep sequencing, phenotyping, and imputation in large-scale biobanks: A novel and cost-effective framework to identify rare mutations associated with addiction. Role: Co-Investigator
- NIH/NIMH 5 R01 MH100141-06 (PI: Keller) Estimating the genetic and environmental architecture of psychiatric disorders. Role: Co-Investigator
Additional Resources:
Current Lab

Christopher Arehart
Predoctoral Trainee
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Maizy Brasher
Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's student
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Travis Mize
Predoctoral Trainee
Institute for Behavioral Genetics
Former Trainees
Scott Funkhouser
Postdoctoral trainee, 2019-2021
Publications
How rare mutations contribute to complex traits
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.
All Authors:
Evans LM; Romero Villela PN
Published in: NaturePublication Date: 2023-02-16
Type: Journal Article
Genome-wide Association Study Shows That Executive Functioning Is Influenced by GABAergic Processes and Is a Neurocognitive Genetic Correlate of Psychiatric Disorders
All Authors:
Published in: Biological PsychiatryHatoum AS; Morrison CL; Mitchell EC; Lam M; Benca-Bachman CE; Reineberg AE; Palmer RHC; Evans LM; Keller MC; Friedman NP...
- Hatoum AS
- Morrison CL
- Mitchell EC
- Lam M
- Benca-Bachman CE
- Reineberg AE
- Palmer RHC
- Evans LM
- Keller MC
- Friedman NP
Publication Date: 2023-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Hippocampal RNA sequencing in mice selectively bred for high and low activity
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.; Ehringer, Marissa A
All Authors:
Booher WCC; Vanderlinden LAA; Hall LAA; Thomas ALL; Evans LMM; Saba LMM; Ehringer MAA
Published in: Genes, Brain and BehaviorPublication Date: 2022-12-13
Type: Journal Article
Examination of a novel expression-based gene-SNP annotation strategy to identify tissue-specific contributions to heritability in multiple traits
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.
All Authors:
Mize TJ; Evans LM
Published in: European Journal of Human GeneticsPublication Date: 2022-11-29
Type: Journal Article
Rare genetic variants explain missing heritability in smoking
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.; Keller, Matthew C
All Authors:
Published in: Nature Human BehaviourJang S-K; Evans L; Fialkowski A; Arnett DK; Ashley-Koch AE; Barnes KC; Becker DM; Bis JC; Blangero J; Bleecker ER...
- Jang S-K
- Evans L
- Fialkowski A
- Arnett DK
- Ashley-Koch AE
- Barnes KC
- Becker DM
- Bis JC
- Blangero J
- Bleecker ER
Publication Date: 2022-08-04
Type: Journal Article
Genome-wide Association Meta-analysis of Childhood and Adolescent Internalizing Symptoms
All Authors:
Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryJami ES; Hammerschlag AR; Ip HF; Allegrini AG; Benyamin B; Border R; Diemer EW; Jiang C; Karhunen V; Lu Y...
- Jami ES
- Hammerschlag AR
- Ip HF
- Allegrini AG
- Benyamin B
- Border R
- Diemer EW
- Jiang C
- Karhunen V
- Lu Y
Publication Date: 2022-06-27
Type: Journal Article
Within-sibship genome-wide association analyses decrease bias in estimates of direct genetic effects
All Authors:
Published in: Nature GeneticsHowe LJ; Nivard MG; Morris TT; Hansen AF; Rasheed H; Cho Y; Chittoor G; Ahlskog R; Lind PA; Palviainen T...
- Howe LJ
- Nivard MG
- Morris TT
- Hansen AF
- Rasheed H
- Cho Y
- Chittoor G
- Ahlskog R
- Lind PA
- Palviainen T
Publication Date: 2022-05-09
Type: Journal Article
Testing Association of Previously Implicated Gene-Sets in Nicotine Exposed Mouse Models with Human Smoking Phenotypes
All Authors:
Mize TJ; Funkhouser SA; Buck JM; Stitzel JA; Ehringer MA; Evans LM
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2021-11-01
Type: Conference Proceeding
Does Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy Moderate the Effect of Genes on Offspring's Smoking Behavior?
All Authors:
Villela PNR; Balbona JC; Border R; Keller MC; Evans LM; Ehringer MA
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2021-11-01
Type: Conference Proceeding
Novel characterization of the multivariate genetic architecture of internalizing psychopathology and alcohol use
All Authors:
Colbert SMC; Funkhouser SA; Johnson EC; Morrison CL; Hoeffer CA; Friedman NP; Ehringer MA; Evans LM
Published in: American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric GeneticsPublication Date: 2021-09-27
Type: Journal Article
Sexual dimorphism in the dioecious willow; Salix purpurea
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.
All Authors:
Gouker FE; Carlson CH; Zou J; Evans L; Crowell CR; Smart CD; DiFazio SP; Smart LB
Published in: American Journal of BotanyPublication Date: 2021-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Genetic association study of childhood aggression across raters, instruments, and age
All Authors:
Published in: Translational PsychiatryIp HF; van der Laan CM; Krapohl EML; Brikell I; Sanchez-Mora C; Nolte IM; St Pourcain B; Bolhuis K; Palviainen T; Zafarm...
- Ip HF
- van der Laan CM
- Krapohl EML
- Brikell I
- Sanchez-Mora C
- Nolte IM
- St Pourcain B
- Bolhuis K
- Palviainen T
- Zafarmand H
Publication Date: 2021-07-30
Type: Journal Article
Little Evidence of Modified Genetic Effect of rs16969968 on Heavy Smoking Based on Age of Onset of Smoking
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.; Ehringer, Marissa A
All Authors:
Adjangba C; Border R; Villela PNR; Ehringer MA; Evans LM
Published in: Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchPublication Date: 2021-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Genetic architecture of four smoking behaviors using partitioned SNP heritability
All Authors:
Evans LM; Jang S; Hancock DB; Ehringer MA; Otto JM; Vrieze SI; Keller MC
Published in: AddictionPublication Date: 2021-03-05
Type: Journal Article
Genetic data improves niche model discrimination and alters the direction and magnitude of climate change forecasts
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.
All Authors:
Bothwell HM; Evans LM; Hersch-Green EI; Woolbright SA; Allan GJ; Whitham TG
Published in: Ecological ApplicationsPublication Date: 2021-01-20
Type: Journal Article
Differential shared genetic influences of anxiety with problematic alcohol use compared to alcohol consumption
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.; Ehringer, Marissa A
All Authors:
Colbert SMC; Funkhouser S; Johnson EC; Ehringer M; Evans L
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2020-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Whole-Genome Sequencing of Inbred Mouse Strains Selected for High and Low Open-Field Activity
All Authors:
Thomas AL; Evans LM; Nelsen MD; Chesler EJ; Powers MS; Booher WC; Lowry CA; DeFries JC; Ehringer MA
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2020-09-16
Type: Journal Article
The Role of A Priori-Identified Addiction and Smoking Gene Sets in Smoking Behaviors
CU Boulder Authors:
Ehringer, Marissa A; Evans, Luke M.; Keller, Matthew C; Stitzel, Jerry A; Hoeffer, Charles Albert; Hewitt, John K
All Authors:
Published in: Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchEvans LM; Johnson EC; Melroy-Greif WE; Hewitt JK; Hoeffer CA; Keller MC; Saba LM; Stitzel JA; Ehringer MA...
- Evans LM
- Johnson EC
- Melroy-Greif WE
- Hewitt JK
- Hoeffer CA
- Keller MC
- Saba LM
- Stitzel JA
- Ehringer MA
Publication Date: 2020-08-01
Type: Journal Article
No significant interaction between rs16969968 and genome-wide loci to predict cigarettes per day in the UK Biobank
All Authors:
Villela PNR; Border R; Keller MC; Evans LM; Ehringer MA
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2020-06-26
Type: Conference Proceeding
Investigating heterogenous genetic effects contributing to smoking behavior using the UK Biobank
CU Boulder Authors:
Boardman, Jason D; Hewitt, John K; Evans, Luke M.; Stallings, Michael C; Keller, Matthew C
All Authors:
Funkhouser SA; Evans LM
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2020-06-26
Type: Conference Proceeding
Joint linkage and association mapping of complex traits in shrub willow (Salix purpurea L.)
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.
All Authors:
Carlson CH; Gouker FE; Crowell CR; Evans L; DiFazio SP; Smart CD; Smart LB
Published in: Annals of BotanyPublication Date: 2019-10-29
Type: Journal Article
Measurement Error Cannot Account for Failed Replications of Historic Candidate Gene-by-Environment Hypotheses: Response to Vrshek-Schallhorn et al.
CU Boulder Authors:
Keller, Matthew C; Evans, Luke M.
All Authors:
Border R; Johnson EC; Evans LM; Keller MC
Published in: American Journal of PsychiatryPublication Date: 2019-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Multitrait genome‐wide association analysis of; Populus trichocarpa; identifies key polymorphisms controlling morphological and physiological traits
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.
All Authors:
Published in: New PhytologistChhetri HB; Macaya‐Sanz D; Kainer D; Biswal AK; Evans LM; Chen J; Collins C; Hunt K; Mohanty SS; Rosenstiel T...
- Chhetri HB
- Macaya‐Sanz D
- Kainer D
- Biswal AK
- Evans LM
- Chen J
- Collins C
- Hunt K
- Mohanty SS
- Rosenstiel T
Publication Date: 2019-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Imputation of behavioral candidate gene repeat variants in 486,551 publicly-available UK Biobank individuals
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C; Evans, Luke M.; Keller, Matthew C; McQueen, Matt; Hewitt, John K; Krauter, Kenneth S
All Authors:
Published in: European Journal of Human GeneticsBorder R; Smolen A; Corley RP; Stallings MC; Brown SA; Conger RD; Derringer J; Donnellan MB; Haberstick BC; Hewitt JK...
- Border R
- Smolen A
- Corley RP
- Stallings MC
- Brown SA
- Conger RD
- Derringer J
- Donnellan MB
- Haberstick BC
- Hewitt JK
Publication Date: 2019-06-01
Type: Journal Article
No Support for Historical Candidate Gene or Candidate Gene-by-Interaction Hypotheses for Major Depression Across Multiple Large Samples
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.; Keller, Matthew C
All Authors:
Border R; Johnson EC; Evans LM; Smolen A; Berley N; Sullivan PF; Keller MC
Published in: American Journal of PsychiatryPublication Date: 2019-05-01
Type: Journal Article
Pages
Recruiting
The Evans lab is recruiting new graduate students. Please see the Evans Lab page for more information.
Contact Luke Evans directly about postdoctoral trainee positions.