Andrew J. Berry

Andrew J. Berry is a Lecturer on Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Assistant Head Tutor of Integrative Biology at Harvard University. He holds a BSc in Zoology from Oxford University and a PhD in Evolutionary Genetics from Princeton University. His research focuses on genetic and statistical approaches to detecting adaptive evolution, with a particular interest in islands as hotspots for evolutionary innovation. He also specializes in the history of science, particularly the work of Alfred Russel Wallace, co-discoverer of natural selection.

Education:

• BSc Zoology, Oxford University
• PhD Evolutionary Genetics, Princeton University

Research Interests: Berry explores evolutionary genetics, the role of natural history in shaping evolutionary thought, and the legacy of historical figures like Wallace and Darwin. His work bridges technical studies (e.g., selective sweeps in Drosophila) and historical analyses, emphasizing the interconnectedness of science and its narrative context.

Teaching: Berry teaches six courses at Harvard, including foundational classes like LS1b (Genetics, Genomics & Evolution) and specialized courses like What is Life? and Understanding Darwinism. He also teaches at Sabanci University in Istanbul.

Public Engagement: Berry has written two books, including Infinite Tropics (on Wallace) and DNA (with Jim Watson). He frequently lectures internationally and appears in media, such as the Ken Burns’ adaptation of Siddhartha Mukherjee’s The Gene.

Labs/Teams: He leads the Berry Lab at Harvard, focusing on evolutionary genetics and historical science.