Contact Details
- Phone
- +64 3 479 6827
- lisa.matisoo-smith@otago.ac.nz
University Links
- Position
- Professor of Biological Anthropology
- Department
- Department of Anatomy
- Qualifications
- BA(Berkeley) PhD(Auck)
- Research summary
- Biological anthropology and human genetic variation in ancient and modern populations
- Teaching
- Biological athropology, human variation, molecular anthropology, human evolution, ancient DNA
- Memberships
- Fellow, Royal Society of New Zealand
- Fellow, Society of Antiquaries, London
- Director, Allan Wilson at Otago Research Theme
Research
The Matisoo-Smith lab focuses primarily on identifying the origins of Pacific peoples and their commensal plants and animals in order to better understand the settlement, history and prehistory of the Pacific and New Zealand. They utilize both ancient and modern DNA methods to answer a range of anthropological questions regarding population histories, dispersals and interactions.
The Matisoo-Smith team is working on a range of projects funded by a variety of organizations, but the overarching research theme of the lab and the research group is Molecular Anthropology and Ancient DNA analyses. They have a purpose built, state-of-the-art ancient DNA laboratory, located in the University of Otago Richardson Building, as well as a fully equipped modern DNA lab in the University's Lindo Ferguson Building.
Major projects include:
- A genomic study of the people of Wairau Bar: health, history and origins of the first New Zealanders
- Africa to Aotearoa: A genetic ancestry study of New Zealanders
- National Geographic's Genographic Project – Pacific Region PI
- Allan Wilson at Otago: A Research Theme in Human Evolutionary Genomics
- Evidence for Polynesian contact in South America: Redrawing the Polynesian Triangle
- Following the Phoenicians – Using ancient DNA to track Phoenician settlement in the Mediterranean