Prize Scholar: Lachlan Scarsbrook

I’m a second year DPhil Student in Archaeological Science working in the Wellcome Trust’s Palaeobarn, funded by the Merton Clarendon Archaeology Scholarship. A biologist by training, my research sits at the interface between the human and life sciences, employing the “celebrity science” of ancient DNA to unlock the secrets hidden in archaeological remains. 

More specifically, I’m focused on unravelling the causes and consequences of millennia of interaction between humans and their closest evolutionary companion, dogs. This includes assessing the genomic consequences of artificial selection throughout the history of pedigree dogs, reconstructing the evolutionary history of Australian dingoes, and establishing a chronological baseline for the presence of wolves in the UK. My research has far reaching implications, from better understanding the inheritance of human genetic disorders, to fuelling controversial discussions of wolf reintroduction into Scotland.

Throughout my time in Oxford, Merton has offered unparalleled resources, providing both considerable financial support, and connection to a vibrant community of graduate scholars. I’m extremely grateful to be a part of Merton’s incredibly rich history.