معرفی
Will Nash is an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia (UEA), where he teaches Vertebrate Biodiversity and Data Science & Bioinformatics. He is currently employed as a Bioinformatician at the Natural History Museum, London, working remotely with Prof Ian Barnes, and previously spent eight years as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Earlham Institute. His academic journey includes a PhD in evolutionary biology from UEA, an MRes in Entomology from Imperial College London, and a BSc in Zoology from the University of Sheffield.
- PhD, University of East Anglia (2011–2015)
- MRes Entomology, Imperial College London (2010–2011)
- BSc Zoology, University of Sheffield (2006–2009)
Will's research centers on evolutionary and comparative genomics, with a focus on insect biodiversity. His key interests include landscape genomics, the functional non-coding genome, and the use of museum DNA to study historical population trends. He is actively involved in large-scale genomics consortia such as the Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) and the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA), contributing to the assembly and analysis of reference genomes for non-model species. His recent work explores adaptive evolution in insects, particularly bumblebees, using cutting-edge bioinformatic methods to analyze genome-wide data from both modern and historical specimens.
The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend in conservation genomics and environmental adaptation. His studies span insect activity under climate stress, genome assembly of ecologically important species, DNA preservation in museum specimens, and genomic introgression in aquaculture. These works highlight his interdisciplinary approach, combining field ecology, genomics, and computational biology to address pressing questions in biodiversity and conservation.
Will has extensive supervisory experience with PhD, MRes, and undergraduate students on bioinformatics and ecology projects. While no formal scientific awards are mentioned, his datasets have received broad attention in academic and public spheres, including coverage by numerous news outlets and engagement across social media platforms. He has also contributed to research with significant policy and conservation implications.
At the Earlham Institute, Will served as Accessibility Champion on the DEI committee, where he led initiatives to improve physical accessibility and support neurodiverse researchers. He identifies as neurodivergent and is passionate about making STEM more inclusive. His work in IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) in STEM reflects a deep commitment to fostering equitable research environments.
