Alexander Young, DPhil
Assistant Adjunct Professor, Human Genetics
About
Alex is a statistical geneticist and on the steering committee of the SSGAC.
Alex is interested in how genetic variation gives rise to the diversity of humans in all their facets: physical traits, behaviours, social outcomes. A central theme of his research is how we can use the randomisation of genetic material within-families to disentangle nature and nurture. This enables us to understand how genetic and cultural transmission from parents to offspring, combined with mating patterns, shape the distribution of traits in the population. He develops theory, statistical methods, and software for analyzing genetic data.
In previous years, Alex obtained degrees in mathematics and statistics, computational biology, and a doctorate in genomic medicine and statistics from the University of Oxford. He also worked at deCODE Genetics in Iceland.