Megan Dillon

Population Geneticist

College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University

Dr. Megan Dillon is a population geneticist whose research examines how environmental extremes shape the genomes of living systems. She earned her Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics from North Carolina State University, where her dissertation focused on free-breeding dog populations within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Her work investigated potential genomic effects associated with chronic radiation exposure and other harsh environmental stressors in one of the world’s most contaminated regions.

Her research has attracted significant public and media interest, reflecting both the scientific importance and human relevance of the work. Committed to effective science communication, Dr. Dillon actively translates complex genetic findings for broader audiences.

In her postdoctoral research, she continues to explore anthropogenic impacts on wildlife, characterizing stress responses in native bumblebee populations across varied land-use environments.