John Bastiaansen

Dr. John Bastiaansen serves as Research Associate at the Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre of Wageningen University & Research, where he specializes in genomic selection and breeding program design. His research focuses on developing and implementing genomic selection methods for livestock improvement, with particular emphasis on fish breeding programs. He has made significant contributions to understanding how genetic effects interact with environmental contexts and how selection methods affect genetic variation. His work spans multiple species, including innovative research on fish exterior traits using digital image analysis for breeding programs in Greece. Through his involvement in the Professional Certificate Programme in Animal Breeding and Genetics and associated MOOCs, he helps train the next generation of animal breeding specialists. His research has advanced our understanding of genotype-by-environment interactions in breeding programs, particularly in poultry and fish species. He collaborates extensively with breeding companies to implement practical applications of genomic selection, combining traditional breeding approaches with modern genomic tools to improve livestock and aquaculture breeding programs. His expertise in statistical genomics and breeding program design has contributed to developing more efficient and sustainable animal breeding strategies.