Spencer Wells

Spencer Wells is a geneticist, anthropologist, author, and entrepreneur. For over a decade, he served as an Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society and was the Director of the Genographic Project, which collected and analyzed DNA samples from hundreds of thousands of people worldwide to understand how our ancestors populated the planet. This initiative spearheaded the consumer genomics industry. Wells earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin as a Phi Beta Kappa graduate, received his Ph.D. from Harvard University, and conducted postdoctoral work at Stanford and Oxford.

He is the founder and CEO of the personal genomics company Insitome and the co-founder of Shambhala Expeditions, a travel company. Wells has also ventured into the music scene as a co-owner of the iconic Austin blues club Antone’s. As an author, he has written three books: "The Journey of Man," "Deep Ancestry," and "Pandora's Seed." His extensive fieldwork has brought him to more than 100 countries, where he has engaged with a diverse range of groups, from heads of government to tribal chieftains in remote regions like Chad, Tajikistan, and Papua New Guinea.

Currently residing in Austin, Texas, he also enriches the academic community as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas, where he contributes to both scientific research and education. His multifaceted career spans across various disciplines and industries, reflecting his commitment to integrating scientific knowledge with practical applications in society and culture.