Page 42 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Page 42 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2022
P. 42

MOVERS AND SHAKERS







        Professor Oliver Pybus made Fellow of

        The Royal Society















                                                                                 genomics being, in part, possible
                                                                                 thanks to the ideas he and others
                                                                                 developed and applied to other
                                                                                 viruses over the preceding 20
                                                                                 years. His published work on
                                                                                 Covid-19 includes a high-profile
                                                                                 analysis of the mass introduction
                                                                                 of the virus into the UK via
                                                                                 international travel and development
                                                                                 of the Covid-19 lineage naming
                                                                                 scheme, helping inform public
                                                                                 health and public discourse
                                                                                 throughout the pandemic.
                                                                                 In addition to his role at the
                                                                                 , Professor Pybus holds a
                                                                                 Professorship in Evolution and
                                                                                 Infectious Disease at the University
                                                                                 of Oxford. Commenting on his Royal
                                                                                 Society Fellowship, he said: “It is a
                                              has been recognised for its        great honour to be elected a Royal
                  rofessor Oliver Pybus,      development of and contributions   Society Fellow, and humbling to join
                  Vice Principal for          to the field of phylodynamics,     scientists past and present who
                  Research and Innovation,    which aims to understand how       inspired and influenced me as a
          Phas been elected as a              evolutionary and ecological        student. I hope to use my position
           Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS),   processes interact in natural    to better support and mentor the
           for his outstanding contribution to   populations. Throughout his career,   researchers of the future. Modern
           excellence in science. Professor   he has developed tools for inferring   science is a team effort and I am
           Pybus joins an esteemed            population dynamics from gene      deeply grateful to my collaborators
           community of scientists awarded    sequences and showed how           and colleagues, without whom my
           the FRS.
                                              analysis of pathogen genomes can   work would not have been possible.”
           The Royal Society is a self-       provide new empirical insights into   Stuart Reid added: “Recognition by
           governing fellowship comprised     virus epidemic history, transmission   the Royal Society is amongst the
           of eminent scientists, engineers   dynamics and molecular adaptation.  very highest scientific accolades
           and technologists who are elected   Today, Professor Pybus continues   internationally and I am delighted
           for life through a peer-review     to further develop phylodynamic    for Oliver. He brings distinction
           process based on their substantial   approaches and extend their      to himself, his collaborators and
           contribution to science and the    applications to new fields. His    his discipline and I am grateful to
           improvement of natural knowledge.
                                              work also provided an important    count him a senior colleague in the
           As an interdisciplinary biologist,   contribution to the Covid-19     leadership team here at the Royal
           Professor Pybus’ body of work      response, with the role of virus   Veterinary College.”


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