Jonathan Hodgkin

Professor Jonathan Hodgkin is a Professor of Genetics and Head of the Genetics Unit at the University of Oxford, where he has held his position since 2000. He is also a Fellow of Keble College, Oxford, and has served as Curator of the C. elegans Genetic Map and Nomenclature since 1992.

His educational background includes:

• BA in Zoology from Merton College, University of Oxford (1967-1971)
• Ph.D. in Biology from Darwin College, University of Cambridge (1971-1974), working under Dr. Sydney Brenner studying neurogenetics and development in C. elegans
• Postdoctoral work at Stanford University's Department of Biochemistry (1974-1976) studying myxobacteria

Professor Hodgkin's research focuses on the developmental and molecular genetics of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. His work spans multiple areas including nematode-bacterial interactions, innate immunity and pathogenesis, developmental morphogenesis, sex determination, germline immortality and telomere function, natural variation, genomics, genetic nomenclature, behavioral genetics and neurogenetics, hypoxia, informational suppression and gene interaction, and gene mapping. His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding fundamental genetic mechanisms using C. elegans as a model organism.

His publication record demonstrates a sustained research program with work consistently focused on C. elegans genetics, showing progression from basic developmental genetics to more complex host-pathogen interaction studies. His recent work particularly emphasizes how bacterial pathogens affect nematode development and immunity, bridging molecular genetics with developmental biology and immunology.

Professor Hodgkin has received significant recognition for his work:

• 2011 Genetics Society Medal
• Member of Academia Europaea

Throughout his career, Professor Hodgkin has made substantial contributions to the C. elegans research community, not only through his own research but also through his long-standing role as Curator of the C. elegans Genetic Map and Nomenclature since 1992. His work has been supported by various research grants from organizations including the Medical Research Council (MRC), where he was a non-clinical scientific staff member from 1977-1999.

His laboratory at the University of Oxford's Department of Biochemistry has been a center for C. elegans research for over two decades, contributing significantly to our understanding of nematode genetics and its broader implications for biological sciences. His work continues to influence both the nematode genetics community and broader fields of developmental biology and host-pathogen interactions.