NHGRI's Oral History Collection: Interview with Beth Shapiro

Beth Shapiro, Ph.D., is the director of the University of California, Santa Cruz Paleogenomics Lab and a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz. She also recently became the chief scientific officer of the company Colossal, which was founded with the goal of bringing ancient species back from extinction. Dr. Shapiro is a former Rhodes Scholar and a 2009 recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship (often referred to as the “genius grant”). She is world-renowned as one of the top researchers in the field of ancient DNA. In this interview, Dr. Shapiro recounts the winding road that led her to her field, how her research has evolved with the advent of new genome sequencing technologies post-Human Genome Project, as well as her more recent work with Colossal focusing on de-extinction and species preservation. Lastly, Dr. Shapiro shares valuable wisdom and advice on effective science communication in the age of misinformation.

The National Human Genome Research Institute’s (NHGRI) Oral History Collection features discussions with influential figures in the field of genomics and the history of institute. Intended for researchers and scholars, each oral history contains extensive conversation about science and medicine, biographical details and insights into the inner workings of institutions and initiatives. For more information, visit NHGRI’s History of Genomics Program at: https://www.genome.gov/leadership-ini...

Credits:
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Executive Producer/Historian: Christopher Donohue, Ph.D.
Interviewer: Theo Tiffney, Ph.D.
Assistant Producers: Kris Wetterstrand, M.S., Britny Kish, Mukul Nerurkar
Producer/Videographer/Editor: Alvaro Encinas
Voiceover (Interview Questions): Zachary Utz, M.A.