CV / Publications
Alan Cooper
BlueSky Genetics
Adelaide, South Australia
Scientific publications: 350 - of which 35 (~10%) are Science and Nature, most as first or senior author.
h index: 108 (Google Scholar); ~53k citations. See Google Scholar or ResearchGate.
Expertise: 30-year record of highest-level scientific research and analysis, specialising in building and leading international multidisciplinary collaborative teams. Expert in innovation and synthesis of paleorecords and technology across the environmental, biological, and earth sciences. Multidisciplinary expertise ranging from environmental genomics and climate change, to bioinformatics, microbiomes and public health. Specialist expertise in detecting and analysing environmental and human change over time using ancient and environmental DNA, genomics and evolution, microbiomes and pathogens, and working with indigenous (especially Aboriginal) genetic and environmental heritage.
Skills and Interests:
· Extensive record of world-leading paleoenvironmental scientific innovation and problem solving
· Originality, rapid and flexible incorporation of new approaches across different fields
· 30 year record of building leading & motivating high performance, multi-disciplinary scientific teams
· Highly effective communication skills, spoken and written - professional and public audiences
· International expertise in strategic, operational, fund-raising and scientific management
· Wide-ranging experience establishing scientific standards and policies
· Strong data and analytical skills, science ethics, innovation and rapid application of new approaches
· Experienced Aboriginal Community liaison/partner, working on Country/remote fieldwork
Physical skills:
Remote fieldwork, Aboriginal Community/Environmental Partnership and Liaison
Experienced cave exploration and science researcher, cave/vertical rope work/remote work safety and health, snake handling
Search and Rescue/Emergency management (specialist in underground situations)
Employment:
Blue Sky Genetics (Feb 2020- present), Director
· Genetic detection start-up providing consultancy and contractor services for analysis and application across environmental, earth, and biological sciences.
· Healing Country, Koonalda/Nullarbor caves, Mirning Elders
· Navy Commendation 2022, Forensic identification of HMAS Sydney sailor (AB Thomas Clark)
· Consultant/Head of Science Forty2 Science (2020-2022), Climate change start-up providing high-resolution climate projections to local government and commercial business. Design and development of risk management and planning tools for: Heat impacts, Bushfires, Flood, Biodiversity, Vegetation/Urban Forests, Agricultural Land Use (climate and diseases).
Summary: Designed and developed scientific products based on end-user research for application in environmental and biomedical sciences. Worked with Local Government and commercial industries to provide cutting edge scientific methods and interpretation. Included generation and application of high-resolution localised climate projections. Located and contracted high-profile researchers and scientific experts to develop field-leading mitigation, adaptation, and risk management strategies across major areas: Bushfire & Flood risk, Heat impacts, Biodiversity, Urban Forests, Land Use/economics and planning. Developed commercial, client-oriented, science-based assessments of climate change impacts and mitigation strategies.
Charles Sturt University (2023-2026), Distinguished Professor of Evolution and Environmental Change
- established and directed trace level environmental DNA research facility
- developed research program around River Murray paleoenvironmental records
- expanded studies around climate change and impacts of geomagnetic field strength changes through time
Summary: Designed and developed physically separated research laboratories equipped with specialist trace-level DNA equipment, focussed around sediment DNA, hybridisation capture methods and emulsion PCR approaches to maintaining minority genetic signals in complex mixtures. Worked with conservation and international Government and commercial industries to provide innovative scientific methods and interpretation.
University of Adelaide (2005-2020), Professor
· Founder and Director, Australian Centre for Ancient DNA
· Strategic, operational (including all fundraising), and administrative management of a world-leading research team of 30-40 students and postdocs, built with minimal core support. Key research areas: Environmental Science, Bioinformatics, Climate Change, Microbiomes, Genomics, Biomedicine, Human Evolution,
· 235 research papers (10 in Nature/Science), raised $23M in direct research funding (ARC, NSF, EU, NZ), and ~$80M in non-direct research infrastructure (eg U. Adelaide's new physics building) and multi-institutional centres of excellence
· Formed and led collaborative partnership with Aboriginal Communities and Elders across Australia to establish the Australian Heritage Project, winner of South Australian Science Excellence Award 2018
· South Australian Scientist of the Year 2016/2017
· ARC Laureate Fellow (2014-2019)
· ARC Federation Fellow (2005-10)
· ARC Future Fellow (2010-2014)
· Eureka Prize 2017 – Excellence in Interdisciplinary Research (Aboriginal Heritage Project)
· Fellow of the Royal Society SA 2015, Royal Society SA Verco Medal 2013
Summary: Built world-leading independent research centre of ~40 members through grants and large international collaborative projects published in Nature and Science, ARC Fellowships (9) and Research Grants (19). Generated high profile public and scientific outreach program, leading University research group. 28 PhD graduates, with high proportion of Dean’s Medal/University Medal awards.
Oxford University (1996-2005), Professor
· Founder and Director, Henry Wellcome Ancient Biomolecules Centre (1999-2005)
· Professor of Ancient Biomolecules (2002-2005)
· Developed world-leading research group – strategic/operational management and fundraising
· Wellcome Trust University Fellow, Dept of Zoology (2001-2005)
· Phillip Leverhulme Prize (£50,000, 2002),
· Zoological Society of London Medal (2002)
· 46 papers (14 Nature/Science)
· £2.3M in research grant funding (NERC, Wellcome Trust, Royal Society)
Summary: Postdoc (1995-99), University Research Lecturer (1999-2002), Full Professor (2002-2005) age 36. Personally obtained £1.2M Wellcome Trust/UK Government grant funding, designed, and built world-leading ancient DNA research centre. Multiple Nature and Science papers, generating high public and scientific profile. 12 postdocs and 14 PhD graduates, who have since dominated the ancient DNA field.
Personal Development (2021-2026)
· For the past 5 years I have been working with a Management Psychologist to develop my team management skills. Topics and training include scientific line management skills, resolving different abilities and divergent views, self-awareness and 3-D vision.
Research Highlights:
Initiation of new fields: Ancient DNA, Environmental Genomics, Sediment genetics, Ancient Microbiomes
Established numerous standards for detecting and working with trace genetic materials and microbes
Reconstruction of past climate change impacts and biodiversity changes globally
Establishment of advanced environmental and forensics methods
The first ancient genome, First genetic map of Aboriginal Australia, human history of Europe and S. America
Evolutionary Medicine, past diseaeses, human diet, and relationship to modern lifestyle diseases
Neandertal genetics and diet from dental calculus
Genetic evolutionary history of 40 rare or extinct species, ranging from Dodo to Thylacines
Scientific service:
Frequent presenter of public science seminars, science writing, Science Nation (Australian Science Public Outreach) Panellist 2017-2019, National Geographic ‘Genographic Project’ Human Evolution Node Leader 2006-2011, International Ocean Drilling Program Project Team leader U. Adelaide 2007-2011, Grant reviewer: ERC, ARC, NHMRC, ERC, NZ Marsden, 2004-present
>350 Publications available for freedownload via Researchgate or Google Scholar