Mark Stoneking

Mark Stoneking is an Honorary Professor of Biological Anthropology at the University of Leipzig and a Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. His research focuses on evolutionary genetics, human population history, and the genetic basis of human adaptation.

Education:

• B.A. in Anthropology, University of Oregon (1974–1977)
• M.S. in Genetics, Pennsylvania State University (1977–1979)
• Ph.D. in Genetics, University of California, Berkeley (1981–1986)

Research Interests: Dr. Stoneking studies genetic diversity in human populations, ancient DNA, and the demographic history of human migrations. His work explores how genetic data illuminate cultural and linguistic patterns, such as the spread of Austronesian languages and the Bantu expansion in Africa.

Publications: His recent work includes studies on maternal origins of Southeast Asian populations, ancient genomes in Wallacea, and genetic adaptations to height and metabolism. These studies highlight the interplay between genetic, cultural, and environmental factors in human evolution.

Awards:

• Elected to the National Academy of Sciences USA (2020)
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2000)
• FBI Award for Service to the Forensic DNA Community (1998)

Advising/Grants: Dr. Stoneking has advised numerous students and led projects funded by the Max Planck Society and international collaborations. He has also served on advisory panels for forensic genetics and evolutionary synthesis centers.

Labs/Teams: His research is conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, focusing on evolutionary genetics and ancient DNA analysis.