Dr Conor Rossi

CONTACT DETAILS:

E-mail : rossico [AT] tcd[dot] ie
Tel : +353-(0)1-896-1265
Fax : +353-(0)1-679-8558

MODERN DNA LABORATORY ADDRESS:

Molecular Population Genetics
Smurfit Institute of Genetics
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin 2
Ireland

ANCIENT DNA LABORATORY ADDRESS (for archaeological samples):

Archaeological Genetics
Smurfit Institute of Genetics
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin 2
Ireland

RESEARCH INTEREST:

My research focuses on the ancient population genetics of livestock in Europe. Improvements in extraction techniques and advancements in Next Generation Sequencing have revolutionised the analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA). Studies have demonstrated that aDNA can now be reliably extracted and sequenced to solve a range of evolutionary questions. By placing ancient specimens in a modern context, we are better able to understand the evolution of species in a temporal context. To this end, a large scale sequencing project will be undertaken to answer some longstanding questions of the domestication of cattle. By examining the evolution of domestic cattle at different timestamps we may decipher genes under artificial selection and thus infer what their ancients herders sought.

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE:

2023 - to present: Postdoctoral Fellow, Trinity College Dublin University

June - Aug 2017: Research assistant at the Blaxter lab at the University of Edinburgh Project title: Heterozygosity in Hypsibius dujardini .

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS:

2018 - 2023: PhD , Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

2014 - 2018: B.A. (Mod.) in Genetics, Trinity College Dublin Thesis title: Splitting hares: Phylogeography and genetic diversity of ancient Lepus timidus hibernicus
Supervisor: Dan Bradley

OTHER MERITS:
Trinity Student Scientific Review Life Science Editor (2017/2018)
Genetics Society UK Summer Studentship Award (2017)