Will Smith

Biography

Will Smith is an evolutionary biologist and Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Nottingham. His work focuses on animals falling outside of the neat boxes we call ‘wild’ and ‘domestic’. In particular, he is interested in how a relatively small suite of species – some of which are branded ‘pests’ – manage to thrive in a human-dominated world.

Will’s doctorate combined fieldwork and genetic approaches to study wild Rock Doves in the British Isles. These wild populations are threatened with extinction, following extensive interbreeding with feral ‘city pigeons’. Using DNA analysis and morphological data, the PhD resulted in the identification of a relict population in the Outer Hebrides. Will continues to lead monitoring efforts and research focused on these birds.

His research has been featured in The Guardian, The Telegraph, BBC, and more.