Benjamin Oldroyd

Emeritus Professor Benjamin Oldroyd holds the position of Professor of Behavioural Genetics in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney. He obtained his B.Sc. in Agricultural Genetics from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1981 and his Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of York in 1985. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wales, Bangor, he joined the University of Sydney in 1995, advancing to full professorship and later emeritus status.

Oldroyd's research centers on the behavioural genetics of social insects, with a primary focus on honey bees. His investigations delve into genomic imprinting, epigenetic inheritance through mechanisms like small RNA molecules, parent-of-origin effects on gene expression and reproductive traits, and evolutionary conflicts in eusocial societies. He has authored or co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications, accumulating more than 15,000 citations. Among his most influential works are 'Ancestral monogamy shows kin selection is key to the evolution of eusociality' (Science, 2008), 'What's killing American honey bees?' (PLoS Biology, 2007), 'Honey bee nest thermoregulation: diversity promotes stability' (Science, 2004), 'Asian honey bees: biology, conservation, and human interactions' (2006), and 'Inclusive fitness theory and eusociality' (Nature, 2011). He has also published key books, including Honeybee Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2010) and Beyond DNA: how epigenetics is transforming our understanding of evolution (2023). Oldroyd guest-edited a special issue on epigenetic inheritance and evolution for Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B and served as a resident fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin in 2020. He received the Excellence in Biological Sciences Award at the 2014 NSW Science and Engineering Awards. His research has significantly impacted the understanding of caste differentiation, kin selection, thermoregulation, genetic diversity, and epigenetic roles in the evolution of insect societies.

Professional Email: benjamin.oldroyd@sydney.edu.au