Greger Larson

Professor Greger Larson is a leading scholar in evolutionary genomics and bioarchaeology at the University of Oxford, serving as Director of the Palaeogenomics & Bio-Archaeology Research Network. Based at Brasenose College, he specializes in ancient DNA studies, domestication processes, and human-animal dispersal patterns. His work bridges archaeology, genetics, and computational biology to address long-standing evolutionary questions.

• University of Oxford: Current affiliation
• Palaeo-BARN: Director
• Research focus: Domestication, ancient DNA, phylogenetics

Larson's research integrates ancient DNA with morphological data to reconstruct evolutionary trajectories. His projects span mammals like dogs, cats, and pigs, exploring how domestication shaped modern biodiversity. Recent work examines viral virulence through archaeological samples and interdisciplinary analyses of historical human-animal interactions.

His publications highlight trends in domestication genetics, including dual dispersal patterns in dogs and genetic shifts in post-introduction populations. Collaborative efforts like the FarmGtex project emphasize functional genomics across livestock tissues.

Supervision includes DPhil students studying epidemiological transitions, Basque uniqueness, and bioarchaeological methods. Current grants from AHRC and ERC support his work on human-chicken interactions and ancient DNA synthesis.