Why do animals look the way they do? How can small changes in DNA generate the remarkable diversity of life on Earth? These questions guide the research of Dr. Małgorzata Anna Gazda, an evolutionary biologist studying how genes shape visible traits — like the colours of feathers, scales or skin — and how those traits change as species adapt over time.
Gazda is an Assistant Professor in the Université de Montréal’s Department of Biological Sciences, where she leads a research program in animal genomics and evolutionary biology. Her work brings together population genetics, whole-genome analysis and molecular biology to better understand how genetic variation translates into physical differences. “What fascinates me is how evolution repeatedly finds different solutions to similar biological challenges,” she says.
By studying DNA from natural populations, Gazda investigates how traits such as colour, pattern and sex-based differences emerge and evolve across species. Her research traces the pathways between genes and appearance, revealing how subtle molecular shifts can produce meaningful changes in form and function. The implications extend beyond basic discovery. Understanding how organisms adapt at the genetic level can inform conservation efforts and improve predictions about biological responses to environmental changes. “Studying evolution gives us tools to think forward, not just backward,” she explains.
Beyond her work in evolutionary biology, Gazda studies how the science itself is conducted and communicated. Her efforts to improve transparency and data quality help strengthen confidence in scientific results and support a more open and inclusive research culture, where knowledge can be shared and reused effectively.
Together, the streams of Dr. Małgorzata Anna Gazda’s work demonstrate how exploring life at its most fundamental level can help build a more thoughtful, informed and resilient future. By examining how life adapts at the genetic level, her research helps to predict biodiversity loss, environmental disruption and how species evolve. Dr. Gazda’s work reflects the rigour and global impact of Canada’s research in evolutionary science.
