Martin Evison graduated in genetics from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1982. After a period of graduate study, work and travel in New Zealand and Australia, he pursued a six-year professional career in computing. He returned to academia in 1992 completing the MSc in Environmental Archaeology at Sheffield University. Martin’s academic background in genetics and archaeology allowed him to continue to doctoral research in low-template DNA analysis in a project co-supervised with Trent Centre, National Blood Service.