Alan J. Cooper

Alan Cooper
Born
Alan J. Cooper

1966 (age 57–58)
Dunedin, New Zealand
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington (PhD)
Awards
  • Eureka Prize (2017)
  • South Australian Scientist of the Year (2016)
  • ARC Laureate Fellowship (2014)
  • Royal Society of South Australia Verco Medal (2013)
  • ARC Future Fellowship (2011)
  • ARC Federation Fellowship (2005)
  • Zoological Society of London Medal (2002)
  • Ernst Mayr Award (1995)
  • Walter Fitch Award (1994)
Scientific career
Fields
InstitutionsVictoria University Wellington
Smithsonian Institution
University of Oxford
University of Adelaide
Thesis Molecular evolutionary studies of New Zealand birds  (1994)
Doctoral advisorAllan C. Wilson
Svante Pääbo

Alan Cooper (born 1966)[1] is a New Zealand evolutionary biologist and an ancient DNA researcher. He was involved in several important early ancient DNA studies, such as the first sequencing of moa genomes. He was the inaugural director of both the Henry Wellcome Ancient Biomolecules Centre at the University of Oxford from 2001–2005, and the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at the University of Adelaide, South Australia from 2005–2019.[2]

In December 2019, the University of Adelaide dismissed him, citing "serious misconduct" for bullying staff and students.[3] He was recruited by Charles Sturt University in 2023.[4]

  1. ^ Ross, John (5 July 2018). "Interview with Alan Cooper". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Alan Cooper". Royal Institution of Australia. 30 April 2005. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  3. ^ Lewis, Dyani (21 December 2019). "Head of ancient-DNA lab sacked for 'serious misconduct'". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-019-03932-3. PMID 33340012. S2CID 212810656.
  4. ^ Howes, Ted (10 July 2023). "Dismissed DNA professor rehired at CSU's Border campus". The Border Mail. Retrieved 14 September 2023.