Landers was educated at Southgate Technical College, Hertford College, Oxford (Bachelor Human Sciences, Master of Arts) and Churchill College, Cambridge (Doctor of Philosophy, Some problems in the historical demography of London, 1675-1825, approved 13 November 1984). He is now a Doctor of Letters of the University of Oxford and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
From 1980 until 1990 Landers was Lecturer in Biological Anthropology at University College London. From 1991 to 2005 he was University Lecturer in Historical Demography at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, where he is now the external Chair of the college"s Audit Committee. From 2005 to 2011 he was Principal of Hertford College, Oxford where he is now a Senior Research Fellow.
In March 2013 he was appointed Chair of the Animals in Science Committee an independent expert advisory body which advises ministers on matters relating to animals protected under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Acting.
During the academic year 1994/95 he served as Assessor and he has formerly been a member of the Hebdomadal Council and the General Board at Oxford.
