Thaís Vieira dos Santos HauskrechtCohort 2024

My research interest lies in the intersection of genetics, ethnography, medical anthropology, and history, where I aim to address questions regarding population structures, admixture events, and human variation. By collaborating with contemporary human populations and using Ancient DNA methods, I hope to bring a unique interdisciplinary approach to the study of human history and health. I am particularly passionate about working with under-researched populations, such as those in the African Diaspora. Enhancing representation across populations in genetic databases is crucial for advancing biomedical research.

I want to research the impacts of gene flow resulting from migration events. I aim to examine aspects of admixture events, such as sex-biased genetic contributions. Evidence of uniparental genetic contributions has been observed in admixture resulting from the colonization of the Americas, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and the Indian Ocean Slave Trade. Through this research, I seek to gain insight into assortative mating practices during population movements.

I am keen to learn about post-admixture adaptation in novel environments resulting from migration and subsequent gene flow. I would also like to explore human health and variation in disease susceptibility across and within populations. By conducting this research, I hope to gain greater insight into the population structure of admixed populations and the historical context that brought these trends to realization.

Advisor: Dr. Lindo