Michael W. Bruford

Michael William Bruford (6 June 1963 – 13 April 2023) was a Welsh molecular ecologist, conservation biologist and a professor at Cardiff University's School of Biosciences. His area of research spanned from animal wildlife genetics to the management of captive populations and livestock breeds to animal biobanking. After earning his B.Sc. from the University of Portsmouth and his PhD from the University of Leicester, Bruford worked at the Zoological Society of London where he became Head of Conservation Genetics before joining Cardiff University as reader in 1999 and professor in 2001. In addition to his research activities at Cardiff University, he was also director of the Frozen Ark project, which seeks to preserve threatened animal species by means of cryopreservation.

Education and career Bruford was born in South Wales to Ann and Colin Bruford in 1963. After graduating from St Cyres Comprehensive School in 1981, he pursued and earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in biomolecular science from the University of Portsmouth in 1984.

Publications Bruford was co-author of more than 300 scientific publications in journals and edited volumes.