
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

Grace Bowman
Predoctoral Trainee

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
Transcriptome-wide gene-gene interaction associations elucidate pathways and functional enrichment of complex traits
All Authors:
Evans LM; Arehart CH; Grotzinger AD; Mize TJ; Brasher MS; Stitzel JA; Ehringer MA; Hoeffer CA
Published in: PLoS GeneticsPublication Date: 2023-05-01
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: 2023-04-01
Type: Journal Article
Contribution of rare variants to traits
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.
All Authors:
Evans LMM; Villela PNRN
Published in: NaturePublication Date: 2023-02-08
Type: Journal Article
Testing Association of Previously Implicated Gene Sets and Gene-Networks 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: Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchPublication Date: 2022-11-29
Type: Conference Proceeding
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
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: 2022-11-28
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: 2022-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Poly-omic risk scores predict inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.
All Authors:
Arehart CH; Sterrett JD; Garris RL; Quispe-Pilco RE; Gignoux CR; Evans LM; Stanislawski MA
Publication Date: 2022-09-17Type: Journal Article
Loci on Chromosome 20 Interact with rs16969968 to Influence Cigarettes per Day in European Ancestry Individuals
CU Boulder Authors:
Keller, Matthew C; Evans, Luke M.
All Authors:
Ehringer M; Villela PR; Palviainen T; Evans L; Border R; Kaprio J; Palmer R; Keller M
Publication Date: 2022-08-30Type: Journal Article
Transcriptome-Wide Gene-Gene Interaction Association Study Elucidates Pathways and Functional Enrichment of Complex Traits
CU Boulder Authors:
Hoeffer, Charles Albert; Evans, Luke M.
All Authors:
Evans LM; Arehart CH; Grotzinger AD; Mize TJ; Brasher MS; Stitzel JA; Ehringer MA; Hoeffer CA
Publication Date: 2022-08-17Type: Journal Article
Testing Human Anxiety Associations of Genes Previously Implicated by Mouse Anxiety Models
All Authors:
Brasher MS; Mize TJ; Thomas AL; Hoeffer CA; Ehringer MA; Evans LM
Publication Date: 2022-07-09Type: 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 T; Evans L
Publication Date: 2022-07-06Type: 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: 2022-05-01
Type: Journal Article
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
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: 2021-09-01
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 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; Keller, Matthew C; Stitzel, Jerry A; Hoeffer, Charles Albert; Evans, Luke M.; 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
Pages
Recruiting
Dr. Evans is recruiting new students for a fall 2024 start date. Applications are typically due mid November; for exact dates please check the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology website, if you intend to work with Dr. Evans. Additional information is available on IBG's Prospective Students page and the Evans Lab page.
Contact Luke Evans directly about postdoctoral trainee positions.