Eske Willerslev

Eske Willerslev, a Danish evolutionary geneticist, has reshaped our understanding of human history and prehistoric life through his groundbreaking work in molecular anthropology, palaeontology, and ecology. Born in 1971, he rose to prominence by extracting and analyzing ancient DNA from fossils and sediments, revealing insights into extinct species and ancient human migrations. One of his career highlights includes leading the first successful sequencing of the genome of an ancient human—a 4,000-year-old Greenlander from the Saqqaq culture—published in *Nature* in 2010. This achievement opened new avenues for studying past populations. Willerslev also co-led the recovery of DNA from 2-million-year-old sediment in Greenland, pushing the boundaries of ancient DNA research. His team identified a previously unknown human lineage, the Denisovans, through genetic analysis of a finger bone from Siberia. Among his notable works is the mapping of the peopling of the Americas, challenging long-held theories with evidence of multiple migration waves. He has received numerous accolades, including the Danish EliteForsk Prize and membership in the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. Currently, he directs the Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre at the University of Copenhagen, continuing to pioneer studies that bridge genetics, archaeology, and ecology.