Joel M. Alves

I am a researcher at Biopolis–CIBIO and the School of Archaeology at the University of Oxford. As a biologist working within an archaeological setting, my research sits at the interface of the natural and social sciences. I use DNA from contemporary, historical, and archaeological samples to investigate the origins and dynamics of populations and the ways in which human and environmental pressures have shaped their genomes over time. My interests cover a wide range of topics and species, from adaptation to novel habitats and biological invasions to domestication. I am currently leading several research projects in Portugal and the United Kingdom that integrate multidisciplinary approaches to address questions about the present and the past.

In addition to my research activities, I am the Head of the Strategic Projects and Innovation Lab (SPIn Lab) at Biopolis, a unit dedicated to strengthening institutional capacity for developing and delivering strategic initiatives across academia, industry, civil society, and the public sector. This work encompasses a variety of activities, including coordinating the construction and operationalisation of the Ancient and Environmental DNA laboratories; managing and producing the science communication project The Diary of a Scientist in partnership with Público newspaper; building strategic collaborations with institutions in the United Kingdom; preparing the strategic upgrade plan for the Biopolis communication office; and supporting Biopolis start-ups in their operations and business development.