David Richard Nash

David Richard Nash is an active Lecturer in Evolutionary Ecology at the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, where he also serves as Section Head of Ecology & Evolution since 2023. He has been with the university since 2001, progressing from postdoctoral positions to his current role, and maintains active research and teaching responsibilities.

Dr. Nash received his B.A. (hons) in 1985 and D.Phil. & M.A. in 1990, both from the University of Oxford, UK. His educational background established the foundation for his distinguished career in evolutionary biology.

Nash is an internationally recognized researcher specializing in symbiosis and coevolution, with particular expertise in ant-butterfly interactions. His research spans the continuum from mutualism to parasitism, examining how coevolution shapes ecological interactions. More recently, he has expanded into conservation biology, applying population genetics and novel data sources like natural history collections and remote sensing to biodiversity assessment. His work consistently focuses on myrmecophiles (ant-associated organisms), social parasites of ants, and conservation genetics of threatened species, with increasing integration of citizen science data and image-based analysis of museum specimens.

• Carlsberg Post-doctoral fellowship
• EU Marie Curie Post-doctoral fellowship
• Associate Editor for Insect Conservation and Diversity, Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution, and Frontiers in Microbiology

Dr. Nash has supervised over 40 BSc, 25 MSc, and 8 PhD students, plus 3 postdocs. He has secured significant research funding, including a 5-year Danish Natural Science Foundation grant for 'Social Parasitism' (DKK 4.5 million) and a Danish Culture Ministry grant for studying Maculinea alcon (DKK 550,000). As Section Head of Ecology & Evolution, he leads departmental strategy while mentoring young faculty through the UCPH mentor program.

He heads a research group of 3-7 people and is deeply involved in the international myrmecology community, having served as web master for IUSSI (International Union for the Study of Social Insects) and its North-west European Section. His conference activity includes organizing major international meetings that attracted up to 945 participants, demonstrating significant leadership in his field.