Ancient DNA at Yale University

…the diversity of traits in present-day people, which led to my fascination with the genetic mechanisms of heredity and their influence on human features.

Throughout my scientific and personal journey across Gabon, France, Germany, and the US, I have integrated diverse cultural, social, and political perspectives, continually fueling my determination to explore the evolution of humankind through the study of DNA-the key to our individuality and shared humanity.

… I have been curious about the human experience – unique to everyone yet shared by many. This led me to pursue various avenues of research on the forces that shape it.

I am particularly fascinated by the vast amount of information preserved within the human skeleton. In its nature, bone is a direct window into the person’s life journey and the evolutionary journey of humankind.

In my research, I utilize molecular and osteological methods to study disease, pathogen evolution and the effects of historical epidemics on human immunity. I also have been active in forensic anthropology, focusing on sex estimation methods and skeletal development.

… of archaeological sites to reconstruct early human population history. Sediments also contain DNA from other organisms, revealing the composition of ancient ecological communities and providing insight into the environment of early humans.

My research also explores how changes in the frequency of DNA sequence variants, potentially in response to changes in the environment, shaped human adaptation and impacted our traits.

… analyzing bacterial taxa in soils and skeletal material to study the microbial composition of archaeological proveniences and ancient human microbiomes.

I am fascinated by humans as reflections of our environment, particularly how our lifestyle, behavioral, and physiological adaptations provide us with the distinctive resilience and diversity that characterizes our species.

Ancient DNA is an incredible resource for reconstructing past lives and experiences, and every fragment acts as a unique component of our evolutionary puzzle.

My foremost goal is to pursue a PhD with direct emphasis on ancient DNA, and I dream of contributing to our understanding of what it means to be human.

I’m thrilled to be a member of the Massilani Lab at Yale, and I hold immense gratitude for the opportunity to delve into my greatest interest.

…pursuing a career in the genetics field. As a second-generation immigrant and first-generation college student I am elated to be able to explore and grow in my academic journey.

Understanding the endless functionality and evolution of human genetics is something I find deeply fascinating and is one of the main factors that drove my decision to change my career path from Illustration to Science.

It is an honor to get the opportunity to explore unknown spaces, such as the inner workings of Ancient DNA studied here in Dr. Massilani’s lab.

My experience working in the lab has taught me to find the silver lining in even the most difficult situations and this newfound perseverance will help me find success in all my pursuits.

…in a lab environment, and I am learning new things about biology and genetics each day from my mentor, Shahar, as well as my fellow lab mates.

Working in a lab has been an amazing experience, allowing me to get a hands-on understanding of the incredible capabilities of science in deciphering ancient human DNA.