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Last updated 20th August 2025
Biography
Martin studied genetics at the Universities of Sheffield and Manchester, moving to Oxford University and into archaeogenetic research in 1990. From there, he developed collaborative links with a small group of like-minded colleagues who spearheaded the use of network diagrams in the phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This enjoyable collaboration was to yield influential models for the settlement of both Europe and the Pacific, and for prehistoric dispersals in Africa. He subsequently moved to UCL, Huddersfield and then Leeds University, where he taught, amongst other topics, human evolution, molecular evolution and bioinformatics. He finally moved back to Huddersfield to take up a Research Chair in January 2012.
His research in the last decade has particularly sought to apply complete mtDNA genome variation to archaeogenetic questions, such as the route taken by modern humans dispersing out of Africa and the settlement of Southeast Asia and the Pacific – most recently returning his focus to the continuing controversy over the settlement of Europe.
He co-edited Mitochondrial DNA and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens (Springer-Verlag, 2006) with Hans-Jürgen Bandelt and Vincent Macaulay.
Research Expertise and Interests
- Genetics
- Archeogenetics
- Human Evolution
- Molecular Evolution
- Bioinformatics
- Applying complete mtDNA genome variation to archaeogenetic questions
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Finished
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ACROSS: Australasian Colonization Research: Origins of Seafaring to Sahul
Richards, M. (CoI) & Farr, R. H. (PI)
1/02/18 → 31/01/23
Project: Research
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Genetic and historical perspectives on the early medieval inhumations from the Menga dolmen, Antequera (Spain)
Silva, M., García Sanjuán, L., Fichera, A., Oteo-García, G., Foody, M. G. B., Fernández Rodríguez, L. E., Navarrete Pendón, V., Bennison, A. K., Pala, M., Soares, P., Reich, D., Edwards, C. J. & Richards, M. B., 1 Feb 2026, In: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 69, 12 p., 105559.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Ancient genomes reveal cosmopolitan ancestry and maternal kinship patterns at post-Roman Worth Matravers, Dorset
Foody, M. G. B., Dulias, K., Justeau, P., Ditchfield, P. W., Ladle, L., Gretzinger, J., Schiffels, S., Reich, D., Kenyon, R., Sayer, D., Richards, M. B., Pala, M. & Edwards, C. J., 1 Oct 2025, In: Antiquity. 99, 407, p. 1356-1371 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Genomic evidence supports the "long chronology" for the peopling of Sahul
Gandini, F., Almeida, M., Foody, M. G. B., Nagle, N., Bergström, A., Olivieri, A., Rodrigues, S., Fichera, A., Oteo-Garcia, G., Torroni, A., Achilli, A., Pomat, W., Zainuddin, Z., Eng, K. K., Shoeib, T., Rito, T., Bulbeck, D., O'Connor, S., Bryk, J. & Pala, M. & 7 others, , 28 Nov 2025, In: Science advances. 11, 48, 17 p., eady9493.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Leveraging known Pacific colonisation times to test models for the ancestry of Southeast Asians
Almeida, M., Gandini, F., Rito, T., Foody, M. G., Brandão, A., Oliveira, M., Olivieri, A., Fichera, A., Oteo-Garcia, G., Zainuddin, Z., Eng, K. K., Pomat, W., Bryk, J., Pereira, L., Farr, H., Pala, M., Oppenheimer, S. J., Richards, M. B. & Soares, P., 1 Dec 2025, In: Scientific Reports. 15, 1, 17 p., 37044.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Medieval genomes from eastern Iberia illuminate the role of Morisco mass deportations in dismantling a long-standing genetic bridge with North Africa
Oteo-Garcia, G., Silva, M., Foody, M. G. B., Yau, B., Fichera, A., Alapont, L., Justeau, P., Rodrigues, S., Monteiro, R., Gandini, F., Rovira Gomar, M. L., Ribera i Lacomba, A., Pascual Beneyto, J., Mattiangeli, V., Bradley, D. G., Edwards, C. J., Pala, M. & Richards, M. B., 1 Dec 2025, In: Genome Biology. 26, 1, 22 p., 108.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access5 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)
Press/Media
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DNA study uncovers continental origins of Britain’s bronze age population
23/02/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Ancient DNA Reveals Europe’s Last Hunter-Gatherers Survived Thousands of Years Longer Than Expected
Reich, D., Fichera, A., Gandini, F., Pala, M., Richards, M. B., Edwards, C. & Stewart, J.
22/02/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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The Origin of the Bell Beaker Culture That Transformed Europe Around 2500 BC Discovered
Reich, D., Pala, M., Richards, M., Edwards, C. & Stewart, J. R.
12/02/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Ancient DNA suggests hunter-gatherers in Europe's lowlands endured until 2500 BCE
Reich, D., Fichera, A., Gandini, F., Pala, M., Richards, M., Edwards, C. & Stewart, J. R.
11/02/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Hunter-gatherers northwestern Europe adopted farming from migrant women, study reveals
Stewart, J. R., Pala, M., Richards, M. & Edwards, C.
11/02/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research