- Speaker
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Elaine A. Ostrander, Ph.D.Distinguished Senior Investigator and Section Head, National Human Genome Research Institute
Presidential Lectures are a series of free public colloquia spotlighting groundbreaking research across four themes: neuroscience and autism science, physics, biology, and mathematics and computer science. These curated, high-level scientific talks feature leading scientists and mathematicians and are designed to foster discussion and drive discovery within the New York City research community. We invite those interested in these topics to join us for this weekly lecture series.
The domestication of dogs is, arguably, the most successful scientific experiment in human history, resulting in millions of canids representing more than 350 recognized breeds along with feral, village and mixed-breed dogs. Key to understanding canine variation is the study of modern and ancient canine genomes from around the world.
In this Presidential Lecture, Elaine Ostrander will present her team’s studies encompassing evolution, genomics and genetics as they seek to understand how humans have shaped dog breeds, why some breeds are prone to specific diseases and what accounts for the striking differences in appearance and behavior observed between breeds.
About the Speaker
Ostrander is a distinguished senior investigator at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health. Her work focuses on the origins of dog breeds, the dogs of Chernobyl in Ukraine and the genetics of canine disease and behavior. She received her Ph.D. from Oregon Health Sciences University and did postdoctoral training at Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. She has published more than 400 papers and won several awards, including the Asa Mays Award, the Genetics Society of America Medal, the NHGRI Mentor of the Year Award and the 2023 Edward Novitski Prize. She is a AAAS Fellow and a member of the National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts and Sciences.