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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
RVC, 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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