Lucy van Dorp
@lucyvandorp.bsky.social
UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Group Leader in Microbial Genomics at UCL Genetics Institute @ugiatucl.bsky.social.
Reconstructing the evolution of us and our pathogens past, present and future using large-scale genomics.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucbpvan
Reconstructing the evolution of us and our pathogens past, present and future using large-scale genomics.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucbpvan
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... It's finally out! Meriam Guellil expertly led this project from the first HHV6 detection to the final paper. We found both human herpesviruses 6A and 6B in ancient remains going back 2500 years.
January 2, 2026 at 7:53 PM
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... It's finally out! Meriam Guellil expertly led this project from the first HHV6 detection to the final paper. We found both human herpesviruses 6A and 6B in ancient remains going back 2500 years.
New paper out in Science Advances:
Tracing 2500 years of human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B diversity through ancient DNA
👉 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Tracing 2500 years of human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B diversity through ancient DNA
👉 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Tracing 2500 years of human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B diversity through ancient DNA
First ancient HHV-6 genomes reveal 2500 years of phylogenetic continuity and provide insights into the endogenization of HHV-6A.
www.science.org
January 3, 2026 at 1:46 PM
New paper out in Science Advances:
Tracing 2500 years of human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B diversity through ancient DNA
👉 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Tracing 2500 years of human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B diversity through ancient DNA
👉 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
Reconstructing the histories of ancient pathogens with @poojaswali.bsky.social of @ugiatucl.bsky.social at the @lien-london.bsky.social meeting.
Makes me want to learn every one of these stories!
Makes me want to learn every one of these stories!
December 12, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reconstructing the histories of ancient pathogens with @poojaswali.bsky.social of @ugiatucl.bsky.social at the @lien-london.bsky.social meeting.
Makes me want to learn every one of these stories!
Makes me want to learn every one of these stories!
We’re recruiting a PhD student as part of the AI-Intervene DTP to join FlightPath, an exciting project combining viral genomics, bird migration data, and AI-powered phylodynamics to forecast how avian influenza evolves and spreads.
Project Details 🦠🧬🦅🦆🌎: tinyurl.com/2v4xaxmx.
Project Details 🦠🧬🦅🦆🌎: tinyurl.com/2v4xaxmx.
FlightPath: Predicting Avian Influenza Evolution through AI-Powered Phylodynamics and Bird Migration Modelling at University of Reading on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - FlightPath: Predicting Avian Influenza Evolution through AI-Powered Phylodynamics and Bird Migration Modelling at University of Reading, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:45 AM
We’re recruiting a PhD student as part of the AI-Intervene DTP to join FlightPath, an exciting project combining viral genomics, bird migration data, and AI-powered phylodynamics to forecast how avian influenza evolves and spreads.
Project Details 🦠🧬🦅🦆🌎: tinyurl.com/2v4xaxmx.
Project Details 🦠🧬🦅🦆🌎: tinyurl.com/2v4xaxmx.
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
PhD candidate Cedric Tan from @ucl.ac.uk @ugiatucl.bsky.social is exploring how pathogens and antimicrobial resistance jump between species, supported by a scholarship from A*STAR Singapore and @astar-gis.bsky.social.
#UCLSingapore
#UCLHealth
www.ucl.ac.uk/global/case-...
#UCLSingapore
#UCLHealth
www.ucl.ac.uk/global/case-...
Tackling the spread of disease through a UCL-Singapore connection
PhD candidate Cedric Tan (UCL Genetics Institute) – an A*STAR National Science Scholarship recipient – is using bioinformatics to understand more about how pathogens jump between species.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 26, 2025 at 2:57 PM
PhD candidate Cedric Tan from @ucl.ac.uk @ugiatucl.bsky.social is exploring how pathogens and antimicrobial resistance jump between species, supported by a scholarship from A*STAR Singapore and @astar-gis.bsky.social.
#UCLSingapore
#UCLHealth
www.ucl.ac.uk/global/case-...
#UCLSingapore
#UCLHealth
www.ucl.ac.uk/global/case-...
We are recruiting!
If you like evolutionary biology, microbial genomics, and host-pathogen interactions we have a PhD opening at @ugiatucl.bsky.social using population-scale metagenomics to map global phage diversity and uncover evolutionary signatures that could point to new antimicrobials.
If you like evolutionary biology, microbial genomics, and host-pathogen interactions we have a PhD opening at @ugiatucl.bsky.social using population-scale metagenomics to map global phage diversity and uncover evolutionary signatures that could point to new antimicrobials.
November 24, 2025 at 10:50 AM
We are recruiting!
If you like evolutionary biology, microbial genomics, and host-pathogen interactions we have a PhD opening at @ugiatucl.bsky.social using population-scale metagenomics to map global phage diversity and uncover evolutionary signatures that could point to new antimicrobials.
If you like evolutionary biology, microbial genomics, and host-pathogen interactions we have a PhD opening at @ugiatucl.bsky.social using population-scale metagenomics to map global phage diversity and uncover evolutionary signatures that could point to new antimicrobials.
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
The 2026 EMBL symposium 'Reconstructing the human past using ancient and modern genomics' is live with a fantastic invited speaker lineup!
Abstract deadline 9 June. If work is ongoing, plan for Heidelberg in September😉.
Organised by Maanasa Raghavan, @matejahajdi.bsky.social, Choongwon Jeong & me.
Abstract deadline 9 June. If work is ongoing, plan for Heidelberg in September😉.
Organised by Maanasa Raghavan, @matejahajdi.bsky.social, Choongwon Jeong & me.
November 19, 2025 at 1:41 PM
The 2026 EMBL symposium 'Reconstructing the human past using ancient and modern genomics' is live with a fantastic invited speaker lineup!
Abstract deadline 9 June. If work is ongoing, plan for Heidelberg in September😉.
Organised by Maanasa Raghavan, @matejahajdi.bsky.social, Choongwon Jeong & me.
Abstract deadline 9 June. If work is ongoing, plan for Heidelberg in September😉.
Organised by Maanasa Raghavan, @matejahajdi.bsky.social, Choongwon Jeong & me.
A fantastic day of talks and discussions. Thanks to the organisers and @gensocuk.bsky.social
Wonderful and engaging talk by
@lucyvandorp.bsky.social
who was invited to speak on the drivers of pathogen evolution using ancient DNA at the Ancient Genomes: Perspectives on Human Biology and Medicine meeting
@gensocuk.bsky.social
🧬🦠
@lucyvandorp.bsky.social
who was invited to speak on the drivers of pathogen evolution using ancient DNA at the Ancient Genomes: Perspectives on Human Biology and Medicine meeting
@gensocuk.bsky.social
🧬🦠
November 17, 2025 at 10:06 AM
A fantastic day of talks and discussions. Thanks to the organisers and @gensocuk.bsky.social
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
Great to have Dr Hrushikesh Loya give a fantastic talk on his tool Ghostbusters: A Genome-Wide Genealogical Approach to Uncovering Hidden Admixture Events in Human Evolution 👻
October 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Great to have Dr Hrushikesh Loya give a fantastic talk on his tool Ghostbusters: A Genome-Wide Genealogical Approach to Uncovering Hidden Admixture Events in Human Evolution 👻
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
I am fascinated by how viruses evolve - and not just since #SARSCoV2 has shown us at the global stage how consequential virus evolution can be for us.
In my new story in @science.org I got to explore how researchers are probing deeper into the past with old RNA virus genome.
So a 🧪 thread…
In my new story in @science.org I got to explore how researchers are probing deeper into the past with old RNA virus genome.
So a 🧪 thread…
On an Arctic archipelago, frozen soil may preserve a hidden history of viruses
Scientists are hunting for ancient RNA in Svalbard’s permafrost, hoping to shed light on the evolution of viral diseases
www.science.org
October 18, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I am fascinated by how viruses evolve - and not just since #SARSCoV2 has shown us at the global stage how consequential virus evolution can be for us.
In my new story in @science.org I got to explore how researchers are probing deeper into the past with old RNA virus genome.
So a 🧪 thread…
In my new story in @science.org I got to explore how researchers are probing deeper into the past with old RNA virus genome.
So a 🧪 thread…
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
Pooja Swali @poojaswali.bsky.social presenting her very interesting work on ancient pathogens. @ugiatucl.bsky.social
September 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Pooja Swali @poojaswali.bsky.social presenting her very interesting work on ancient pathogens. @ugiatucl.bsky.social
Excited to say we’re hiring 😊. We’re looking for a post-doc in ancient pathogen genomics to join our friendly supportive team in London at @ugiatucl.bsky.social. Start date January 2026.
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
www.ucl.ac.uk
September 1, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Excited to say we’re hiring 😊. We’re looking for a post-doc in ancient pathogen genomics to join our friendly supportive team in London at @ugiatucl.bsky.social. Start date January 2026.
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
New preprint from UGI PhD student @cednotsed.bsky.social , @proffballoux.bsky.social and @lucyvandorp.bsky.social, exploring the microbial and antimicrobial resistance signatures of hospital-acquired pneumonia using nanopore metagenomic sequencing (www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...).
Characterising the microbial and antimicrobial resistance signatures of hospital-acquired pneumonia using nanopore metagenomic sequencing
Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a significant burden in nosocomial settings, yet its microbial underpinnings remain poorly understood. Here, we leverage shotgun nanopore sequencing to characteris...
www.biorxiv.org
August 11, 2025 at 10:58 AM
New preprint from UGI PhD student @cednotsed.bsky.social , @proffballoux.bsky.social and @lucyvandorp.bsky.social, exploring the microbial and antimicrobial resistance signatures of hospital-acquired pneumonia using nanopore metagenomic sequencing (www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...).
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
Not long left to submit your abstract! Deadline is 31 July.
Join us in November for the Ancient Genomes meeting and hear from amazing speakers including: @mathiesoniain.bsky.social, @lquintanamurci.bsky.social & @lucyvandorp.bsky.social!
genetics.org.uk/events/ancie...
Join us in November for the Ancient Genomes meeting and hear from amazing speakers including: @mathiesoniain.bsky.social, @lquintanamurci.bsky.social & @lucyvandorp.bsky.social!
genetics.org.uk/events/ancie...
July 29, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Not long left to submit your abstract! Deadline is 31 July.
Join us in November for the Ancient Genomes meeting and hear from amazing speakers including: @mathiesoniain.bsky.social, @lquintanamurci.bsky.social & @lucyvandorp.bsky.social!
genetics.org.uk/events/ancie...
Join us in November for the Ancient Genomes meeting and hear from amazing speakers including: @mathiesoniain.bsky.social, @lquintanamurci.bsky.social & @lucyvandorp.bsky.social!
genetics.org.uk/events/ancie...
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
@cednotsed.bsky.social presenting at #SMEB2025 on his work on predicting the fitness of mutations in SARS-CoV-2. Preprint here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
July 23, 2025 at 9:29 AM
@cednotsed.bsky.social presenting at #SMEB2025 on his work on predicting the fitness of mutations in SARS-CoV-2. Preprint here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
And UGI PhD student Cedric Tan presenting in symposium 21 @official-smbe.bsky.social #SMBE2025 on his work "Intrahost dynamics, together with genetic and phenotypic effects predict the success of viral mutations".
#SMBE2025 Symposium 21: Thematic symposium: virus evolution and pathogen evolution
🔗 smbe2025.scimeeting.cn/en/web/program/25070
🔗 smbe2025.scimeeting.cn/en/web/program/25070
July 17, 2025 at 9:45 AM
And UGI PhD student Cedric Tan presenting in symposium 21 @official-smbe.bsky.social #SMBE2025 on his work "Intrahost dynamics, together with genetic and phenotypic effects predict the success of viral mutations".
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
✨🧬 Sharing our UCL Genetics Institute starter pack of researchers, friends and alumni past and present 🧬 ✨
#UGISKY
(DM us to be added)
go.bsky.app/Gw1NqRa
#UGISKY
(DM us to be added)
go.bsky.app/Gw1NqRa
July 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM
✨🧬 Sharing our UCL Genetics Institute starter pack of researchers, friends and alumni past and present 🧬 ✨
#UGISKY
(DM us to be added)
go.bsky.app/Gw1NqRa
#UGISKY
(DM us to be added)
go.bsky.app/Gw1NqRa
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
We’ve got some good news! The deadline to submit abstracts for our “Ancient #Genomes: Perspectives on Human Biology and Medicine” meeting has been extended to 31 July 2025. So if you were thinking about submitting, there’s still plenty of time!
genetics.org.uk/events/ancie...
genetics.org.uk/events/ancie...
Ancient genomes: perspectives on human biology and medicine | Genetics Society
It is our great pleasure to invite you to participate in the Autumn Meeting of the Genetics Society. This meeting will provide a unique forum to network and socialise with a wide cross-section of the ...
genetics.org.uk
July 1, 2025 at 9:57 AM
We’ve got some good news! The deadline to submit abstracts for our “Ancient #Genomes: Perspectives on Human Biology and Medicine” meeting has been extended to 31 July 2025. So if you were thinking about submitting, there’s still plenty of time!
genetics.org.uk/events/ancie...
genetics.org.uk/events/ancie...
Reposted by Lucy van Dorp
Thrilled to share our latest preprint! 🎉🔥
We analysed >23k mtDNA genomes & found 18 variants shaped by climate—linked to thermogenesis, metabolism & disease.
Led by PhD student Finley Grover-Thomas, and in collab with: @aidaandres.bsky.social @lucyvandorp.bsky.social @proffballoux.bsky.social
We analysed >23k mtDNA genomes & found 18 variants shaped by climate—linked to thermogenesis, metabolism & disease.
Led by PhD student Finley Grover-Thomas, and in collab with: @aidaandres.bsky.social @lucyvandorp.bsky.social @proffballoux.bsky.social
Climate associated natural selection in the human mitochondrial genome https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.23.655374v1
May 28, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Thrilled to share our latest preprint! 🎉🔥
We analysed >23k mtDNA genomes & found 18 variants shaped by climate—linked to thermogenesis, metabolism & disease.
Led by PhD student Finley Grover-Thomas, and in collab with: @aidaandres.bsky.social @lucyvandorp.bsky.social @proffballoux.bsky.social
We analysed >23k mtDNA genomes & found 18 variants shaped by climate—linked to thermogenesis, metabolism & disease.
Led by PhD student Finley Grover-Thomas, and in collab with: @aidaandres.bsky.social @lucyvandorp.bsky.social @proffballoux.bsky.social
Our @ucl.ac.uk @crick.ac.uk work, out this week in @science.org, traces a genetic time series of bacterial infections to reveal when and how Borrelia recurrentis jumped from ticks to humans—via our body lice.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Ancient Borrelia genomes document the evolutionary history of louse-borne relapsing fever
Several bacterial pathogens have transitioned from tick-borne to louse-borne transmission, which often involves genome reduction and increasing virulence. However, the timing of such transitions remai...
www.science.org
May 23, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Our @ucl.ac.uk @crick.ac.uk work, out this week in @science.org, traces a genetic time series of bacterial infections to reveal when and how Borrelia recurrentis jumped from ticks to humans—via our body lice.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...