ABOUT ME |
From Scotland to Poland and back to Scotland
Since moving to Edinburgh to pursue research in human genetics I have irreversibly fallen in love with Scotland. Learning about her rich history, inspiring inventors and great thinkers, exploring lochs and hills and meeting so many wonderful Scottish people has made a lasting impact on me - both professionally and personally.
Originally from Poland (albeit with a tiny drop of Caledonian blood!), I have always been fascinated by the multiethnic past of my native homeland. The more I read about the historic links between our two nations the more I realised our shared history deserves to be more widely known. Combining my professional background in genetics and genealogy with my love for Poland and Scotland seemed like the perfect way to make that happen! Eryk Jan Grzeszkowiak
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Journey to genetic genealogyMy interest in genealogy started quite early - when I was only 10! It gradually led me to exploring human genetics and how my ancestors’ DNA shaped my own life. Analysing the DNA of my family members captivated me so much that I decided to alter my future path and, after finishing my undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of York, I moved to Edinburgh where I completed postgraduate studies in Human Complex Trait Genetics and where I have lived and continued my research ever since. In 2016 I launched the first Polish blog devoted to genetic genealogy and I have since spoken at national and international genetic and genealogy conferences in Europe and America. I authored and taught Poland’s first academic course in genetic genealogy and have since lectured in genetics and genetic genealogy at four different universities across Europe. It is my hope that more and more universities continue to embrace genetic genealogy as an interdisciplinary field worth teaching and researching. In 2023 I officially launched the Scottish-Polish project to explore the oft-forgotten links between our two nations. While thousands of Scots settled in Poland between the 16th and 19th centuries, only a small minority of their descendants still proudly remember their Scottish roots - in most cases the memory of their Caledonian descent has faded over time, largely due to the linguistic assimilation of their surnames or descent in a non-male line. Some Polonised surnames still bear resemblance to their Scottish ancestors, e.g. Machlejd - MacLeod. Other families modified their names to such a degree that they cannot be distinguished from native Polish surnames. Luckily, our DNA does not forget our past - and, thanks to DNA sequencing, more and more Poles discover their Scottish roots, and more and more Scots discover their long-lost Polish cousins. |