Beth Shapiro
Encyclopedia
Beth A. Shapiro is an American evolution
ary molecular biologist
. She has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the Pennsylvania State University
since 2007. Shapiro's work has centered on the analysis of ancient DNA
. She was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2009.
and grew up in Rome, Georgia
, where she served as the local news anchor while still in high school. She graduated from the University of Georgia
in 1999 with both a B.A. and an M.A. in ecology. The same year she was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. In 2003 Shapiro received a D.Phil. in biology from Oxford University.
. While at the Biomolecules Centre Shapiro carried out mitochondrial DNA
analysis of the dodo
.
Shapiro has written on ecology
for a number of journals including Science
, Molecular Biology and Evolution and PLoS Biology
. In 2007, she was named by Smithsonian Magazine as one of 37 young American innovators under the age of 36.
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
ary molecular biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
. She has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
since 2007. Shapiro's work has centered on the analysis of ancient DNA
Ancient DNA
Ancient DNA is DNA isolated from ancient specimens. It can be also loosely described as any DNA recovered from biological samples that have not been preserved specifically for later DNA analyses...
. She was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2009.
Early life and education
Shapiro was born in Allentown, PennsylvaniaAllentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
and grew up in Rome, Georgia
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
, where she served as the local news anchor while still in high school. She graduated from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in 1999 with both a B.A. and an M.A. in ecology. The same year she was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. In 2003 Shapiro received a D.Phil. in biology from Oxford University.
Career
Shapiro became a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow at Oxford in 2004. The same year she was appointed director of the Henry Wellcome Biomolecules Centre at Oxford. A position she held until 2007. In 2006 she was awarded a University Research Fellowship by the Royal SocietyRoyal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. While at the Biomolecules Centre Shapiro carried out mitochondrial DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
analysis of the dodo
Dodo
The dodo was a flightless bird endemic to the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Related to pigeons and doves, it stood about a meter tall, weighing about , living on fruit, and nesting on the ground....
.
Shapiro has written on ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
for a number of journals including Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
, Molecular Biology and Evolution and PLoS Biology
PLoS Biology
PLoS Biology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering all aspects of biology. Publication began on October 13, 2003.It was the first journal of the Public Library of Science. All content in PLoS Biology is published under the Creative Commons "by-attribution" license...
. In 2007, she was named by Smithsonian Magazine as one of 37 young American innovators under the age of 36.
Honors and awards
- National GeographicNational Geographic SocietyThe National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
Emerging Explorer (2010) - University of Georgia Young Alumnus Award (2010)
- MacArthur Fellowship (2009)
- Smithsonian Magazine Young American Innovator in the Arts and Sciences (2007)
- Royal SocietyRoyal SocietyThe Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
University Research Fellowship (2006) - Rhodes Scholarship (1999)
- Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society (1998)
- Morris K. Udall Scholarship for Excellence in Environmental Public Policy (1997)
- Foundation Fellowship, University of Georgia (1994–1998)
- Phi Kappa PhiPhi Kappa PhiThe Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society established 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study and to promote the "unity and democracy of education"...
Scholar (1995)