Hugo de Boer

Hugo de Boer is a Professor and Research Director at the Department of Research and Collections, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo. He serves as Head of the Department of Research and Collections, Head of Delegation of GBIF Norway, and Chair of the Panel on CITES at the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM). He is also the Steering Committee Leader of ForBio - Research School in Biosystematics and Principal Investigator of the REA:Life convergence environment focusing on rediscovery of medicinal plant usage in the "Age of Exploration".

His research centers on plant identification using molecular barcoding, with applications in biodiversity conservation, monitoring trade in plant genetic resources for pharmaceutical manufacturing, horticulture, and tropical timber industries. His group develops genomic approaches for DNA barcoding using full chloroplast genomes and target-enrichment methods for degraded materials like herbarium collections and processed plant products. This work addresses the challenges in plant barcoding, particularly the absence of a single suitable identification marker and the need for clear definition of intraspecific versus interspecific genetic variation.

Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a strong emphasis on environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding for biodiversity assessment across diverse ecosystems. His work spans aquatic communities in Oslofjord, forest types assessment through soil eDNA, and conservation of endangered species including sturgeons, crocodilians, and tortoises. This research directly supports public policy implementation including the Convention on Biological Diversity and Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.

As an academic supervisor, de Boer has guided numerous PhD students working on diverse topics related to DNA barcoding, ethnobotany, and conservation biology. His research group is part of the Evolution, eDNA, Genomics and Ethnobotany (EDGE) research group at the Natural History Museum, which brings together expertise in evolutionary biology, environmental DNA analysis, genomics, and ethnobotanical studies.