Scott Cocker

Scott Cocker is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Palaeogenetics (CPG), a collaboration between Stockholm University and the Swedish Museum of Natural History. He is affiliated with the Department of Geological Sciences and IGV's Marine Geology group, which studies ocean geology and history through marine sediment archives.

Dr. Cocker completed his PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta (2020-2024), an MSc in Earth Science at Brock University (2018-2020), and a BSc in Geology and Physical Geography at the University of Edinburgh (2014-2018). His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in Quaternary science and paleoenvironmental reconstruction.

His research focuses on reconstructing Quaternary environments using ancient DNA, traditional biological proxies, and stratigraphy, with particular emphasis on eastern Beringia. Analysis of 12 recent publications reveals a consistent pattern of innovative work using Arctic ground squirrel middens to document Pleistocene ecology, megaherbivore dynamics, and environmental change during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. His work integrates multiple proxies to provide comprehensive environmental reconstructions.

Dr. Cocker has received several prestigious awards including the Harington Paleoenvironmental Scholarship (twice), Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship, and the Edgar and Irmgard Penner Scholarship. His research has contributed significantly to understanding the collapse of the mammoth-steppe ecosystem and Pleistocene paleoecology in North America.

As a geologist and physical geographer with 10 years of field and lab experience, Dr. Cocker brings expertise in permafrost studies, Quaternary palaeoecology, and sedimentary ancient DNA to his current position. His work bridges geological sciences with genetic approaches to environmental reconstruction, positioning him at the forefront of interdisciplinary Quaternary research.