# John M. Hancock

> researcher

**Wikidata**: [Q37375432](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37375432)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-m-hancock

## Summary
John M. Hancock is a male researcher who works across biology, bioinformatics, genomics, and informatics. He has held research and leadership roles at multiple UK institutions, including head-of-department positions at the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences and the Mammalian Genetics Unit, and later worked at EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI).

## Biography
- Education: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Edinburgh (1975-10-01 to 1980-06-01); academic thesis: *Studies on the mechanism of chromosome banding*
- Employer(s): Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (postdoctoral researcher, 1978-11 to 1982-05); Imperial College London (postdoctoral researcher, 1982-06 to 1985-09); University of Cambridge (postdoctoral researcher, 1985-12 to 1991-10); Australian National University (research fellow, 1991-10 to 1994-07); MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (head of department, 1994-09 to 2000-02); Royal Holloway, University of London (2000-03 to 2002-06); Mammalian Genetics Unit (head of department, 2002-06 to 2012-09); EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (2017-10-30 to 2020-10-29; also listed with start time 2017); University of Ljubljana (visiting professor, from 2020-12)
- Field(s): biology; bioinformatics; genomics; informatics
- Occupation: researcher; biologist; computer scientist; university teacher
- Languages: English

## Contributions
The provided sources describe John M. Hancock primarily through his roles, fields, and identifiers rather than specific publications or products. His documented contributions include leadership as a head of department at two research organizations: the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (1994-09 to 2000-02) and the Mammalian Genetics Unit (2002-06 to 2012-09). These roles indicate responsibility for directing departmental research activity within medical sciences and genetics contexts.

His academic training includes a PhD at the University of Edinburgh (1975-10-01 to 1980-06-01), with a thesis titled *Studies on the mechanism of chromosome banding*, linking his early work to chromosome banding mechanisms. He also held multiple postdoctoral researcher positions (Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics; Imperial College London; University of Cambridge), followed by a research fellowship at the Australian National University (1991-10 to 1994-07). Later, he worked at EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) from 2017-10-30 to 2020-10-29, aligning with his listed fields of bioinformatics, genomics, and informatics. From 2020-12, he is listed as a visiting professor at the University of Ljubljana.

## FAQs
### Q: Who is John M. Hancock?
A: John M. Hancock is a researcher whose work spans biology, bioinformatics, genomics, and informatics. He has held research, teaching, and departmental leadership roles at institutions in the UK and elsewhere.

### Q: Where did John M. Hancock study?
A: He earned a PhD at the University of Edinburgh (1975-10-01 to 1980-06-01). His thesis was titled *Studies on the mechanism of chromosome banding*.

### Q: What institutions has John M. Hancock worked for?
A: His recorded employers include the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge, the Australian National University, the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Royal Holloway (University of London), the Mammalian Genetics Unit, and EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute. He is also listed as a visiting professor at the University of Ljubljana from 2020-12.

### Q: Did John M. Hancock hold leadership roles?
A: Yes. He is listed as head of department at the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (1994-09 to 2000-02) and at the Mammalian Genetics Unit (2002-06 to 2012-09).

## Why They Matter
Within the provided material, John M. Hancock’s significance is most clearly reflected in the combination of (1) long-term work across computational and biological domains (bioinformatics, genomics, and informatics) and (2) formal leadership roles in research settings. Serving as head of department at the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (1994-09 to 2000-02) and later at the Mammalian Genetics Unit (2002-06 to 2012-09) places him in positions that shape research direction, staffing, and priorities within medical sciences and genetics organizations.

His career trajectory also shows sustained engagement with major research institutions, including postdoctoral appointments at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Imperial College London, and the University of Cambridge, followed by a research fellowship at the Australian National University. His later employment at EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (2017-10-30 to 2020-10-29) aligns with his listed fields in bioinformatics and genomics, areas central to modern biological data analysis. Collectively, these roles indicate an individual positioned at the intersection of biology and computing, with influence expressed through departmental leadership and institutional research work rather than through specific outputs enumerated in the supplied sources.

## Notable For
- PhD thesis: *Studies on the mechanism of chromosome banding* (University of Edinburgh; PhD period 1975-10-01 to 1980-06-01)
- Head of department, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (1994-09 to 2000-02)
- Head of department, Mammalian Genetics Unit (2002-06 to 2012-09)
- Employment at EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) (2017-10-30 to 2020-10-29)
- Visiting professor at the University of Ljubljana (from 2020-12)

## Body
### Identity and fields
- Name: John M. Hancock (alias: John Hancock)
- Sex or gender: male
- Occupations listed:
  - researcher
  - biologist
  - computer scientist
  - university teacher
- Fields of work listed:
  - biology
  - bioinformatics
  - genomics
  - informatics
- Language: English

### Education
- University of Edinburgh
  - Degree: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  - Dates: 1975-10-01 to 1980-06-01
  - Thesis: *Studies on the mechanism of chromosome banding*

### Employment and academic appointments (chronological)
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics
  - Role: postdoctoral researcher
  - Dates: 1978-11 to 1982-05
- Imperial College London
  - Role: postdoctoral researcher
  - Dates: 1982-06 to 1985-09
- University of Cambridge
  - Role: postdoctoral researcher
  - Dates: 1985-12 to 1991-10
- Australian National University
  - Role: research fellow
  - Dates: 1991-10 to 1994-07
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences
  - Role: head of department
  - Dates: 1994-09 to 2000-02
- Royal Holloway, University of London
  - Dates: 2000-03 to 2002-06
- Mammalian Genetics Unit
  - Role: head of department
  - Dates: 2002-06 to 2012-09
- EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI)
  - Dates: 2017-10-30 to 2020-10-29 (also listed with start time 2017)
- University of Ljubljana
  - Role: visiting professor
  - Dates: from 2020-12

### Identifiers (selected)
- ISNI: 0000000116727181
- VIAF: 74111153
- GND: 1049513452
- Library of Congress authority ID: n2003129911
- IdRef: 081936702
- Scopus author ID: 7202389339
- ResearcherID: A-2442-2009
- Publons author ID: 174658
- Dimensions author ID: 0713313373.21
- WorldCat Entities ID: E39PBJpdMGfBBhgYVRXTY9tkDq
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007436605205171
- NUKAT: n2005126902

## Schema Markup
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      "name": "Royal Holloway, University of London"
    },
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      "name": "Imperial College London"
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      "name": "University of Cambridge"
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      "name": "Australian National University"
    },
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      "name": "Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics"
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    }
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  "knowsAbout": [
    "Biology",
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  "description": "John M. Hancock is a researcher whose work spans biology, bioinformatics, genomics, and informatics, and who has held head-of-department roles at UK research institutions."
}

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. [Source](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2991-2217)
3. [Source](http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2991-2217)
4. [ORCID Public Data File 2021](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-2991-2217/employment/4849940)
5. [ORCID Public Data File 2021](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-2991-2217/employment/1903659)
6. [ORCID Public Data File 2021](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-2991-2217/employment/1903663)
7. [ORCID Public Data File 2021](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-2991-2217/employment/1903664)
8. [ORCID Public Data File 2021](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-2991-2217/employment/1903668)
9. [ORCID Public Data File 2021](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-2991-2217/employment/1903670)
10. [ORCID Public Data File 2021](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-2991-2217/employment/1903678)
11. [ORCID Public Data File 2021](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-2991-2217/employment/1903687)
12. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-2991-2217/employment/14892751)
13. [Source](https://data.dnb.de/opendata/authorities-gnd-person_lds.rdf.gz)
14. Virtual International Authority File
15. [SciGraph](https://scigraph.springernature.com/person.0713313373.21)
16. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File