Charlotte Lindqvist

Charlotte Lindqvist is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD from the University of Copenhagen and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Oslo. Her research focuses on evolutionary genetics, particularly using ancient DNA and genomic approaches to study diversification in mammals and plants, with emphasis on Arctic species, bear evolution, polyploid plant systems, and responses to environmental changes. She leads the Lindqvist Lab, which investigates speciation, hybridization, and adaptation in natural populations. Lindqvist has secured NSF grants for projects including paleogenetic surveys of Alaska’s biodiversity and collaborations with Indigenous groups like the Wrangell Cooperative Association. Her work bridges ecology, genetics, and geology to understand organism-environment interactions during climate transitions. Notable contributions include clarifying polar bear origins, elucidating dog migration routes in the Americas, and advancing genomic methods for endangered species conservation.

Education:

• PhD in Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• Postdoctoral Research, University of Oslo, Norway

Research Interests:

• Evolutionary mechanisms driving speciation and adaptation
• Ancient DNA analyses of subfossil and lake sediment records
• Genomic studies of ursine bears and angiosperm radiations
• Climate change impacts on biodiversity

Grants/Projects:

• NSF-funded paleogenetic surveys in Southeast Alaska
• Collaborations on repatriation of Indigenous remains
• MinION-based genome sequencing for endangered ash species

Labs/Teams:

• Lindqvist Lab (University at Buffalo)
• International collaborations with institutions in Norway, Russia, and Southeast Asia